5^ 



/ 

PART FIRST, ANCIENT. 



ELEMENTS ^^ 



&(p-i^^4 



OK 



ANCIENT HISTORY: 



ARRANGED 



IN CLEAR AND CONNECTED ORDER, 



FOR TPIE USE OF THE JUNIOR CLASSES 






STUDENTS. ■ ^ %v 




BY J. B. KIDDER, A.M.^ 

Classical Teacher, Neio York. 



NEW YORK ; 

PUBLISHED BY H. & S. RAYNOR, 

No. 7& Bowery. 

1836. 



Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year 1836, by J. B. 
Kidder, in the Clerk's Office of the District Co\iit of the South- 
em District of New-York. 



^/^^ 






PREFACE. 



The increased attention paid to the study of histo- 
ry, is an omen favourable to the cause of education. 
Parents and teachers have judged correctly in award- 
ing to it a high rank among the means of improving 
the intellectual, and moulding the moral powers. 

Without the least design to depreciate the many 
useful volumes on the subject, which have issued from 
the press, the author of the following pages is not 
without hopes, that his humble efforts may be useful 
in simplifying this important branch of knowledge, 
and extending more widely its advantages. His design 
has been to embody the most important events, ia 
clear, chronological order,so as to form in the mind of a 
child, on his first acquaintance with the subject, a sys- 
tematick outline of the whole, that when he pursues 
the study in larger corapends, or peruses the works 
of original authors, he may refer every fact to its 
proper place in the system, and escape the confusion 
which is apt to arise from so great a variety of matter 
as history presents. 

The catechetical form has been adopted, as the best 
calculated to include much matter in little space. It 
will be observed, that the answers constitute a conti- 
nued narrative, and make complete sense without the 
questions, but that the phraseology is often varied to 
direct the pupils attention more to the meaning than 
to the words by which it is conveyed. 

Though the work is intended for young learners, 
the writer has not aimed at a childish simplicity of 



PREFACE. 

Style, under a belief that plain words used in their 
ordinary acceptation, are equally intelligible, and more 
useful to such pupils, giving them a command of lan- 
guage, as well as a knowledge of facts. 

How far he has succeeded in his object, and how 
far the object is valuable, must be left to the impartial 
verdict of intelligent teachers, and to them he com- 
mits his little book, assured, that if it lightens their 
labours, or assists them in their arduous and self-de- 
nying duty, he shall not lose his reward. 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT fflSTORY. 



INTRODUCTION. 

Q. 1. What is History 1 

A. History is an account of past events . 

Q. 2. How is it divided with respect to time t 

A. With respect to time, History is eitlier 
Ancient or Modern. 

Q. 3. What is Ancient History ? 

A. Ancient History extends from the creation 
to the time of Charlemagne about A. D. 800. All 
events since that period belong to Modern History. 

Q. 4. How long is it from the Creation to the 
present year 1836 .? 

A. About 5840 years are supposed to have 
elapsed since the world was created. 

Q. 5. How many years are included in the period 
of Ancient History 1 

A. From the Creation to the end of Ancient His- 
tory are reckoned 4804 years. 

Q. 6. How many years from the Creation to the 
hirth of Christ 1 

A. The Saviour appeared on earth 4004 years 
after its creation. 



4 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

Q. 7. How many years have since passed ? 

A. The Epoch from which we calculate time is 
the birth of Christ. According to the common 
reckoning, 1836 years have since passed. 

Q. 8. Have we reason to rely on this calcula- 
tion i 

A. Learned lax^n are generally agreed that 
there is a mistake of 4 years in this account, that 
the Saviour was born 4 years earlier or 1840 years 
ago, and only 4000 after the Creation. 

Q. 9. What is an Epoch 1 

A. Any remarkable event from which time is 
reckoned either forward or backward, is called an 
epoch. 

Q. 10. What is an Era ? 

A, A long series of years calculated from any 
epoch is called an Era. Thus the Christian Era 
comprehends the period since our Saviour's com- 
ing. 

Q. 11. How is Ancient History divided as resr 
peats its subjects ? 

A. With respect to the subj ects, Ancient History 
is either Sacred or Profane. 

Q. 12. How is Sacred History distinguished 
fiom profane 1 

A. ^ The account of God's dealings with men 
contained in the Bible is called Sacred History : 
all uninspired records belong to Profane History. 

Q. 13. How may ancient times he divided ? 

A. In order to assist the memory and render the 
whole subject more dear, we may consider ancient 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY, 5 

times to be divided into thirteen periods ; beginning 
and ending with signal events. 

Q. 14. What are these events or epoclis 1 
A. The memorable events that divide ancient 
times are — 

1st. The Creation of the world. 

2d. The Universal Deluge. 

3d. The Call of Abraham. 

4th. The Departure of the Israelites from 

. Egypt. 
5th. The Building of the Temple. 
6th. The Building of E-ome. 
7th. The Capture of Babylon, 
8th. The Battle of Arbela. 
9th. The Destruction of Carthage 
10th. The Birth of Christ. 
11th. The Accession of Constantino. 
12th. The subversion of the Roman Empire. 
13th. The flight of Mahomet. 
14th. The Coronation of Charlemagne. 



FIRST PERIOD. 

Q. 1. What is the extent of the First Period of 
ancient History 1 

A. The first Period reaches from the Creation 
of the world to the deluge, 1656 years. 

Q. 2. WTience do we derive all our kriowledge of 
this era d 

1* 



6 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

A. All our knowledge of these primitive times is 
derived from the first seven chapters of the book 
of Genesis. 

Q. 3. Bi/ whom was this hook composed ? 

A. The Book of Genesis was written by Moses 
under the inspiration of God. 

Q. 4. WTiat are the most important events that 
occurred during this period 1 

A. The two most momentous events of this time 
are the Creation of the world and of Man, and the 
Fall of our first parents. 

Q. 5. What account is given of the Creation of 
the world 1 

A. We are informed that the heavens, the earth, 
and all things were made by God in six days. 

Q. 6. Is it not wonderful that the vast frame of 
the universe should he created in so short a time ? 

A. The works of God are indeed stupendous 
and numberless, but when we consider that he is Al- 
mighty and knows all things, we shall see, it is no 
more wonderful that he should form the world in 
six days, than in any longer period. 

Q. 7. What is said (fthe Creation of Man ? 

A. Man was created on the sixth day, as the last 
and best of the works of God. 

Q. 8. How many were created ? 

A. Only one pair, Adam and Eve were made : 
from them all the human race are descended. 

Q. 9. Hoio was man distinguished from other 
animals 1 

A. Man was created in the image of God, and 
endowed with dominion over other animals. 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 7 

Q. 10. In what condition did our jirst parents 
live ? 

A. Adam and. Eve were created good and 
happy, and were placed in an agreeable garden 
called Eden. 

Q. 11. Where was Eden situated ? 

A. Eden is supposed to have been near the 
junction of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. 

Q. 12. Did tliey continue in this happy state 2 

A. Our first parents lost their innocence and 
happiness by disobeying God ! 

Q. 13. "What command did they disohey ? 

A. As a trial of their obedience, God command- 
ed the first human beings, not to eat the fruit of a 
tree, called the tree of knowledge. They ate some 
of that fruit and brought on themselves and us the 
threatened penalty. 

Q. 14. What are the consequences of this sin ? 

A. The punishment threatened was death, but it 
includes all the diseases, pains, and miseries tliat 
we suffer, from which we should, no doubt, have 
been free had we persevered in obedience to God, 

Q. 15. What promise was made to the guilty 
pair ? 

A. God graciously promised a Saviour, who 
should be born of human race, and through whom 
they might be redeemed from the miseries of the 
fall. 

Q. 16. Who were thejirst children of Adam and 
Eve ? 

A. Cain and Abel were the first-born of mankind ; 



8 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

the former was a husbandman, the latter a shep- 
herd. 

Q. 17. Who was the first that suffered, death ? 

A. Abel was the first that died, being murdered 
by his brother Cain. 

Q. 18 What is there remarkable respecting the 
Antediluvians ? 

A. The most remarkable fact known of the peo- 
ple before the flood, is the great age, that many of 
them attained. 

Q. 19. What was the age of some of these pa- 
triarchs ? 

A. Several of the early patriarchs lived 900 
years and upwards. Methuselah, the oldest that 
ever lived , attained the age of 969 years. 

Q. 20. Did knowledge and the arts flourish ? 

A. We are briefly told that the arts of Musick, 
working metals and some others were invented ; 
we read of no wars, and not even of government, 
though perhaps they existed. 

Q,. 21. Were the people before the flood virtuous 
and religious ? 

A. Enoch, who was born 622 years after the 
Creation, was a pious man : "he waited with God" 
and was translated to heaven without dying ; but 
the generality of men were extremely wicked. 

Q. 22. What was the consequence of this depra- 
vity ? 

A. It is said, that it grieved God that he had 
made man, and he revealed to Noah that he would 
bring a flood over the earth, to destroy the whole 
generation at once. 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 9 

Q. 23. Who was Noah? 

A. Noah was a righteous and pious man, and 
was directed by the Creator to prepare an ark or 
large vessel wherein himself, his family, and vari- 
ous kinds of animals should be preserved to re- 
plenish the earth with inhabitants. 

Q. 24. In what year did the deluge occur ? 

A. Agreeably to the threatening of God, the 
flood came and destroyed the wicked inhabitants 
of the Earth, 1656 years after the Creation, and 
2348 before Christ. 

Q. 25. How long did the deluge continue ? 

A. The waters subsided in about a year, so that 
Noah and his family landed on Mount Ararat. 

Q. 26. Where is Mount Ararat ? 

A. There is a mountain in Armenia called Ara- 
rat, and the traditions of the neighbouring inhabitants 
concur with the opinions of learned men, that it is 
the place where the family of Noah disembarked 
from the ark. 



SECOND PERIOD. 

Q,. 1. What is the extent of the second Period 
of History. 

A. The second period begins with the deluge 
and ends at the Call of Abraham, comprehending 
426 years. 



10 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

Q. 2. How many human heings survived the 
flood ? 

A. Noah and his wife, his three sons and their 
wives, being eight in all, remained after the gene- 
ral destruction, and became the ancestors of the 
present population of the world. 

Q. 3. Where was the residence of Noah ? 

A. It is supposed that Noah and his family re- 
sided for some time in the vicinity of Ararat. 

Q,. 4. JVhat were the names of Noah'^s sons ? 

A. Noah's sons were named Shem, Ham and 
Japhet. Their names are always mentioned in 
this order though Japhet was the eldest. 

Q. 5. What were their characters 1 

A. Shem and Japhet are mentioned favourably, 
but Ham represented as wicked. 

Q. 6. What were the countries peopled hy each ? 

A. The most of the inhabitants of Asia are de- 
scendants of Shem, the Africans of Ham, and the 
European race of Japhet. 

Q. 7. What caused the dispersion of men into 
various regions ? 

A. Men attempted to build a tower that should 
reach to heaven, but God to punish and disperse 
them, confounded their language. 

Q,. 8. How did the confusion of tongues disperse 
mankind •? 

A. Men being no longer able to understand each 
other, voluntarily separated and thus founded dif- 
ferent nations. 

Q. Was true religion long preserved among men 
in general ? 



Elements of ancient history. 11 

A, In the course of a few generations, almost all 
men forsook the true God and invented different 
forms of false religion. 

Q,. 10. What was tlie state of Society at fhis 
time f 

A. We have reason to believe that men still 
attained a great age and lived a pastoral life. 

Q. 11. W^as government yet introduced ? 

A. We have authentick information of the 
founding of several States in those early times. 

Q,. 12. Whatwas the Jirstjbrmqf government? 

A. The earliest government tvas doubtless the 
patriarchal, a species of monarchy, in which the 
lather of a family, or the head of a tribe, exercised 
authority over his children, servants and depend- 
ants. 

Q. 13. When do we first hear of royalty 1 

A. Nimrod the grandson of Ham was the first 
king, and reigned at Babel or Babylon, already fa- 
mous for the confusion of tongues. 

Q,. 14. Wit7i what other city was Babylon 
united 1 

A. Babylon was united with Nineveh which 
Had been already founded by Ashur* the son of 
Shem. 

Q. 15. By what name was this government calh 
td? 



* Note. Others translate Genesis X. 11. thils: "Out of that 
land he [Nimrod] went forth to Assyria and builded Nineveh 

&.C." 



12 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTOHY. 

A. This was the foundation of the Assyrian 
sometimes called the first universal empire^ 

Q. 16. Who succeeded Nimrod ? 

A. Ninus succeeded his father Nimrody and 
reigned at Nineveh. He was followed by his wife 
Semiramis, an active and able princess. 

Q. 17. JVho loas the next monarcli 1 

A. To Semiramis succeeded her son Ninyas, 
an inactive and effeminate prince, who shut himself 
up in his palace, devoted only to pleasure^asdid his 
successors for thirty generations, till the dissolution 
of the empire. 

Q,. 18. WTiat other hingdoms were founded ? 

A. Egypt was formed into a monarchy by Me- 
nes, supposed to be Mizraim, the son of Ham. 
The Chinese ]£mpire is also supposed to have been 
founded at this early period. 

Q. 19. How was true religion preserved ? 

A. To preserve the true religion and separate 
a people for himself, God called Abraham from 
Chaldea, into Canaan, which he promised to give 
him and his posterity. 

Q. 20. Who was Abraham ? 

A. Abraham was the tenth in descent from Shem, 
and became die ancestor of the Israelites or He 
brews. 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 13 



THIRD PERIOD. 

Q. 1. How long is this period ? 

A. The third period extends from the Call of 
Abraham to the departure of the Israelites from 
Egypt, 430 years. 

Q. 2. When did the call of Abraham occur ? 

A. It is thought by learned men that God's call 
of Abraham took place 427 years after the deluge 
or 1921 before the Saviour's birth. 

Q. 3. What promise was made to Ahraham ? 

A. Grod, when he commanded Abraham to de- 
part from his country, promised to make his pos- 
terity numerous as the stars, though at an advanc- 
ed age he had no child. 

Q,. 4. Was there not another promise more ex- 
cellent 1 

A. The Creator also renewed the promise of a 
Saviour to Abraham, and declared that he should 
be born of his posterity. 

Q,. 5. What was the character of Abraham ? 

A. From his piety and steady adherence to the 
worship of God, Abraham was called the " Friend 
of God" and " Father of the faithful." 

Q. 6. Were the divine promises fulfilled ? 

A. After waiting in faith, till he was 100 years 
old, a son was born whom he called Isaac. Isaac 
was the father of Jacob. Jacob had twelve sons, 
from whom descended the twelve tribes of Israel. 
The Jews still remain a living proof of the fulfil- 



li ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY, 

ment of the first promise. The second was also 
fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ. 

Q,. 7. What were the names of the twelve sons qf 
Jacob 1 

A. Jacob's twelve sons were Reuben, Simeon, 
Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, 
Zebuion, Joseph and Benjamin. 

Q,. 8. What is there remarkable concerning Jo- 
seph 1 

A. Joseph was the favourite of his father, and 
his elder brothers, envious of this partiality, first 
conspired to murder him, but at length sold him 
for a slave to be carried into Egypt. 
Q. 9. What befell Joseph in Egypt 1 
A. In a few years, the providence of God rais-- 
ed Joseph from slavery to the office of Governor 
of Egypt. 

Q. 10. What at length ensued ? 
A. Famine compelled his brothers with other 
strangers to go into Egypt to buy food ; for which 
they applied to Joseph without knowing who he 
was. 

Q. 11. J)id Joseph punish or forgive them ? 
A. Joseph, finding his brothers penitent for 
their crime towards him, forgave them, made him- 
self known to them and invited his father with his 
whole family to reside in Egypt. 

Q,. 12. What were the consequences qf this mi- 
gration ^ 

A. The Hebrews, or Israelites became very nu- 
merous in Egypt, and after the death of Joseph 
they were grievously oppressed and enslaved by 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 15 

the Egyptians. At length the Lord raised up 
Moses to be their deliverer from bondage and to 
lead them into the promised land. 

Q,. 13. What other nations deserve notice at this 
early period 1 

A. Egypt seems at this period to have been the 
most flourishing and civilized nation. Of Babylon 
and Nineveh the scriptures say nothing, unless by 
the " King of Shinar," be meant the King of the 
former. 

Q,. 14. WJiat is the first authentich account of 
warl 

A. Almost in the commencement of this period, 
the king of Elam (afterward Persia) made war 
upon Sodom, Gomorrah and the neighbouring 
places, and plundered them, but Abraham armed 
his servants and pursued after them and recovered 
their booty. 

Q,. 15. What was the fate of Sodom, &c. ? 

A. On account of their extreme wickedness 
God punished Sodom and the neighbouring cities 
by a special interference of his providence, and 
utterly destroyed them by fire and brimstone from 
heaven. The Dead Sea stands on their desolated 
site. 

Q. 11. Does profane history commence in this 
period 2 

A. We learn from profane History only that 
several states and cities of Greece were founded 
during this time. — 

Argos was founded by Inachus a Phoe- 
nician 1856, B. C. 



16 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 

Athens by Cecrops an Egyptian, 1556, B. C. 

Sparta by Lelex 1516, 

Thebes by Cadmus a Phoenician, 1519. 

Q,. 17. W7iat else remarkable is ascribed to 
Cadmus 7 

A. Cadmus is also said to have brought letters 
into Greece from Phoenicia. 

Q. 18. Who were the Pkcenicians ? 

A. The Phoenicians, called in Scripture Canaan- 
Ites, were descendants of Ham, and inhabited Syria 
and Judea. 



FOURTH PERIOD. 

Q. 1. What is the extent of this Period ? 

A. The fourth period begins with the deliver- 
ance of the Israelites, and ends at the Building of 
the temple at Jerusalem. 487 years. 

Q,. 2. When occurred the liberation of the Is' 
raelites ? 

A. The Israelites left Egypt 1491 years before 
Christ. 

Q. 3. Who was Moses ? 

A. Moses was an Israelite of the tribe of Levi, 
who in infancy was exposed on the banks of the 
Nile in obedience to the cruel order of the king ; 
but was preserved, educated and adopted by a 
daughter of the tyrant. 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 17 

Q. 4. Was he actuated hy amhitious motives ? 

A. When 40 years old he became an exile in 
Midian, where he spent 40 years more. While 
acting as a shepherd, the Lord revealed himself to 
him, and sent him to deliver his chosen people from 
their bondage. 

Q,. 5. Hoiv was tJiis deliverance accomplisTied ? 

A. Pharaoh the king, being unwilling to let the 
people depart, God, by means of Moses, inflicted 
on the Egyptians ten miraculous plagues, and at 
length divided the Red Sea, so that they march- 
ed across its bed, from Egypt into the desert of 
Arabia. 

Q. 6. What occurred on Mount Sinai ? 

A. On Mount Sinai, Jehovah appeared in awful 
majesty, and delivered to the Hebrews, laws for 
their guidance. 

Q. 7. Hotv many were these laws ? 

A. The laws given by God to Israel were three j 
viz. 1st. the Moral law of ten commandments ; 
2d. The Ceremonial law of religious observances; 
3d. A civil law for their government as a nation. 

Q. 8. What was the character of those delivered 
from slavery 7 

A. The people in general, showed themselves 
degraded, perverse and rebellious. 

Q. 9. How were they punished for their crimes t 

A. To punish them, God detained them 40 years 
in the desert till all the men that came out of 
Egypt but two, had died. These were Joshua 
and Caleb. Moses and his brother Aaron, the High 
Priest, were not exempted from the sentence. 
. 2* 



IS ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

Q,. 10. ffoiv were the people fed in the sandy 
desert ? 

A. During the 40 years, God miraculously fed 
the people with manna and supplied them with 
water from a rock. He also preserved their cloth- 
ing from decay. 

Q. 11. When did Moses die 1 

A. Moses died just before the expiration of the 
40 years, in sight of th€ promised land, not being 
permitted to enter it. His age was 120 years. 

Q. 12. Who was M.oses' successor 1 

A. Joshua was appointed by God, to conduct 
his people into Canaan, which he accomplished, 
after almost extirpating the inhabitants. 

Q,. 13. What govemmentwas established among 
the Israelites ? 

A. For 356 years, the government was a Theo- 
cracy, administered by the priests and the heads 
of tribes, and occasionally by officers appointed 
by God and called Judges. 

Q,. 14. What change then occurred 1 

A. The Israelites desired to be like their neigh- 
bours, who were governed by kings. This dis- 
pleased God, though he granted their request. 

Q. 15. Who was appointed king ? 

A. At first Saul, of the tribe of Benjamin was 
made king but was soon deposed for disobedience, 
and David, of the tribe of Judah, set up in his 
room. 

Q,. 16. How did David govern the nation ? 

A. David was eminent for warlike abilities, ancJ" 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 19 

during a long reign, he enriched and enlarged his 
dominions. 

Q. 17. Wlmt was Ms character ? 

A. David was also eminent for piety, being 
■styled, " The man after God's own heart;" and 
he received a promise that the royalty should con- 
tinue in his family, and that from him Christ should 
descend. 

Q. 18. WJio was David's succcessor ? 

A. After a prosperous reign, David left the 
kingdom, to his son Solomon, celebrated for wis- 
dom and wealth ; also for having built a magnifi- 
cent temple at Jerusalem, for the performance of 
the sacrifices of their worship. 

Q,. 19. What is the nature of the profane history 
of this time ? 

A. This period is called the heroick age, and 
its history is obscure and encumbered with fables. 

Q. 20. Can 910 reliance he placed on its state^ 
ments ? 

A. There are several events, celebrated in poetry 
that may be relied on as facts. Among these, are 
the Argonautiek Expedition ; the Trojan war, 
and the migration of ^neas to Italy. 

Q. 21. What was the Argonautiek Expedi^ 
tion ? 

A. The Argonautiek Expedition was a voyage 
from Greece to Colchis, on the Euxine Sea. Its 
commander was Jason and its object was " The 
Golden Fleece," by which is understood the rich 
commerce of that region, 

Q,. 22. What was the Trojan war ? 



^0 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

A. The Trojan war was the subject of the Iliad 
ofHomer. Troy, a large city of Lesser Asia, 
was attacked by the united forces of Greece, of 
which the princes were Agamemnon, Achilles, 
Ulysses and others. 

Q. 23. W7iat was tJie event ? 
A. The Trojans, led on by the valiant Hector, 
withstood all the Grecian power for ten years, but 
at length their city was taken by stratagem and. de- 
stroyed. 

,Q. 24. WTio was Mneas 7 
A. JEneas was a Trojan, whose migration to 
and settlement in Italy form the subject of Virgil's 
iEneid. It was a tradition among the Romans that 
he was the ancestor of their founder and that they 
were of Trojan origin. 

Q^ 25. Is there no notice of the eastern king do7ns 
at this timel 

A. Of Assyria there is nothing known, of Egypt 
nothing certain except so far as connected with the 
Hebraws. 

Q,. 26, When do we first hear of writing ? 
A. The first notice of writing, on which we can 
place perfect reliance, is that of the two tables of 
the law, written by God himself. 
Q. 27. What are the oldest hooks ? 
A. The first five books of the bible universally 
ascribed to Moses, are the most ancient books ex- 
tant, and probably the first ever composed. 

Q. 28. Are there no other hooks of this age re- 
maming 1 

A. Several other books of the bible were com- 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 21 

posed, during this time,by tlie prophets and David ; 
but no other authentick compositions are so an- 
cient. 



FIFTH PERIOD. 

Q. 1. What is the extent of the Fifth perM 7 

A. The fifth period extends from the building 
of Solomon's temple 1004 B. C. to the founda- 
tion of Rome 752 B. C. including 252 years. 

Q. 2. What was the character of Solomon 2 

A, The early part of the life of Solomon was 
remarkable for wisdom and piety, but in his old 
age he fell into idolatry. 

Q. 3. How was hepunished for this sin ? 

A, To punish him and the people, God took 
from his son Rehoboam, ten of, the twelve tribes 
which constituted his kingdom. 

Q. 4. What new kingdom was founded ? 

A. Jeroboam of the tribe of Ephraim formed the 
ten tribes that revolted from Rehoboam into the 
independent kingdom of Israel. The family of 
David thenceforth reigned only over the Jews, or 
the tribe of Judah, ^o which that of Benjamin ad- 
hered. 

Q. 5. What is known of the kingdom of Israel t 

A, The kings of Israel were universally wicked 
idolaters who exercised tyrannical power over this 



22 EI/EMEKFTS OF ANCIENT IM§TQRr. 

' unhappy country, till a kttle after tlie close of this 
period when it was conquered by the kings of As- 
syria, and the inhabitants carried into captivity^ 
from which they never have returned. 

Q,. 6. What was the character of the Jewish 
hings ? 

A. Some of the princes of the house of David' 
were pious and religious; others wicked and 
idolatrous. The people led by the example of 
the latter into crime, often subjected themselves 
to punishment. 

Q,. 7. What celebrated poems were composed 
€£hout this time ? 

A. About 900 years B. C. were composed, the 
Iliad and Odyssey, by Homer, the blind poet of^ 
Greece. These works have ever since been es- 
teemed models of taste. Hesiod also wrote about 
this time. 

Q. 8. What may be said of the profane historp 
of this period t 

A. Profane History, at this time begins to at** 
tain a degree of certainty. 

Q. 9. What distinguished lawgiver flourished 
m Greece? 

A. About 884 B, C. Lyeurgus introduced hi^ 
celebrated system of laws at Sparta. 

Q,. ID. What was the nature of the Spartuw 
€ode? 

A. The laws of Lyeurgus were calculated' to- 
form a nation of warriours, and they gave that 
Republick the ascendancy in Greece for many 
years. 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 23 

Q,. 11. What Republich was founded in Afri- 
ca? 

A. About 869 B. C. the commercial city of 
Carthage was founded in the north of Africa, by 
Queen Dido and a colony of Phoenicians from 
Tyre. 

Q,. 12. WTiat is known of Egypt ? 

A. Of Egypt little is recorded. Sheshak, king 
of that country took and plundered Jerusalem, in 
the reign of E-ehoboam, son of Solomon. 

Q. 13. Is this king mentioned by profane his- 
torians 1 

A. Profane history describes a famous conquer- 
or named Sesostris, whom some suppose to be the 
same as Sheshak ; others place Sesostris much 
earlier, 1722 B. C. 

Q,. 14. What other kingdom flourished in the 
west of Asia 1 

A. The kingdom of Syria, of which the capital 
was Damascus, now became a formidable power. 

Q. 15. What is known of Assyria at this time ? 

A. Towards the close of this period, the Old 
Assyrian Empire came to its end under Sardana- 
palus, its last king. 

0,. 16. What was his character ? 

A. Sardanapalus was weak and eifeminate ; in 
consequence a conspiracy and revolt arose, which 
divided the Empire into three large monarchies, 
the New Assyrian, the Babylonian, and the Me- 
dian. 

Q. 17. What was the fate of the king himself? 

A. Sardanapalus, besieged by the conspirators 



•^^ ELEMENTS OP ANCii..vr HISTORY. 

set fire to his palace and burnt himself and his 
treasures together. 

Q,. 18. What kingdom was founded in Greece? 

A. The kingdom of Macedonia was founded 
795. B. C. by Caranus, who was ancestor of 
Alexander the Great. 

Q. 19. With what Epoch docs this period close 1 

A. This period comes to an end with the found- 
ation of Rome, afterward metropolis of the world. 
It was built by Romulus and Remus, 752. B. C 



SIXTH PERIOD. 

Q. 1. How far does this period extend 1 
A. The sixth period reaches from the found- 
ation of Rome 752, to the capture of Babylon, 538 
B. C. including 214 years. 

Q. 2. What form of government loas first es- 
tablished at Rome 1 

A. During all this period, Rome was governed 
by kings assisted by the counsels of a senate. 
Q. 3. How many kings reigned, there 'I 
A. Seveji kings succeeded each other in the 
following order : Romulus 37 years ; Numa 43 ; 
Tullus 32 ; Ancus 24 ; Tarquin the First 38 ; 
Servius Tullius 44. Tarquin the Second began to 
reign about the close of this time. 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 25 

Q. 4. What was the condition of tJie Roman 
2>ow€r 1 

A. Rome was a small, poor and rude, but war- 
like state, occupying only an inconsiderable part of 
Italy, and engaged in continual quarrels with the 
neighbouring tribes. 

■Q,. 5. Wliat luas the condition of Greece ? 

A. Greece was divided into many small states 
but was flourishing in arts and arms, and its insti" 
tutions became gradually more free. 

Q,. 6. What loars occurred in Greece ? 

A. Three desperate wars occurred between the 
Spartans and Messenians, the latter were at 
length vanquished and reduced to slavery. 

Q. 7. What celebrated lawgiver flourished in 
this period ? 

A, At Athens, the famous Solon enacted a 
system of laws for the government of that repub- 
lick. 

Q. 8, What form of government prevailed at 
Athens 1 

A. Athens was at first a monarchy, but was 
afterward governed by magistrates called ar- 
ehons, chosen, at first for ten years, finally for one 
year. 

Q. 9. Wliat ivas the condition of Judah and 
Israel 2 

A. At the beginning of this time Jotham was 
king of Judah and Pekah of Israel. The latter 
kingdom was destroyed a few years after and the 
inhabitants carried captive by Shalmaneser king of 
Assyria. 

3 



26 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

Q. 10. Wliai enemy invaded Judah ? 

A. The kingdom of Judah was invaded by its 
powerful neighbour Sennacherib, king of Assy- 
ria. 

Q. 11. How were they defended 1 

A. Hezekiah, the pious king had recourse to 
God for protection. Accordingly an angel des- 
troyed in one night, 185,000 men in the Assyrian 
camp, and compelled their proud monarch to return 
home in disgrace. 

Q, 12. Did tlie Jewish kingdom long subsist ? 

A. At length, about, 600 B. C. the Jews for 
being guilty of idolatry were punished by the sub- 
version of their state. 

Q. 13. Hoto was this effected ? 

A. Nebuchadnezzar, the powerful king of Ba- 
bylon invaded and took the kingdom, demolished 
Jerusalem and carried the people captive to his 
own country. 

Q. 14. How long did the captivity continue ? 

A.. The Lord had foretold by the prophet Jere- 
miah that this captivity should last seventy years, 
accordingly at the expiration of that period, Cyrus 
having overturned the Babylonian kingdom, gave 
the Jews permission to return to their own country, 
536, B. C. 

Q,. 15. What isknoivn of the Assyrian kingdom 
at Nineveh 1 

A. Of the New Assyrian Empire, profane his- 
tory is entirely silent, but several kings are men- 
tioned in the scriptures, and for half this period, it 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 27 

seems to have been the most powerful kingdom of 
the east. 

Q,. 16. Who were these kings ? 

A. Tiglathpilezer reigned at the beginning of 
this period, after him Shalmaneser, Esarhaddon 
and Sennacherib, all mentioned as invaders of 
Judah or Israel. 

Q. 17. For what is Shalmaneser famous 1 

A. Shalmaneser conquered and made captive the 
kingdoms of Syria and Israel. 

Q. 18. For what is Sennachcrih notorious ? 
' A. Sennacherib is famous for presumptuously 
blaspheming the true God and attacking his peo- 
ple. For this impiety he met the signal overthrow 
already mentioned. 

Q. 19. Is nothing more known of Nineveh ? 

A. This event seems to have been fatal to the 
greatness of that city, but soon after we find Ba- 
bylon at the head of a powerful monarchy called 
the Assyrian. 

Q. 20. Were the Assyrian and 'Babylonian em- 
fires the same ? 

A. At the beginning of this period Babylon was 
independent for 70 years : it was then subjected 
to the king of Nineveh. 

Q. 21. What at length occurred 7 

A. Nabopolassar, governor of Babylon, rebel- 
led against Sarac, the last king of Nineveh, van- 
quished him, and made Babylon the capital of the 
empire. 

Q. 22- WTio was the most celebrated kins of 
Babylon / 



28 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

A. The monarcli who raised Babylonto its high- 
est glory was Nebuchadnezzar, the conqueror of 
Judea, Tyre, Egypt, and other surrounding na- 
tions. 

Q,. 23. What was the extent of Babylon 7 

A. Babylon was fifteen miles square, surround- 
ed by walls 350 feet high, made of bricks cement- 
ed with bitumen. These walls are reckoned one 
of the seven wonders of the world. 

Q. 24. What was the character of Nehuchad- 
nezza7' ? 

A. Nebuchadnezzar was warlike and prudent, 
but imperious and proud. For his vain glory he 
was punished by the loss of reason, and was driven 
from the society of men till he acknowledged his 
dependance upon the Lord. 

Q. 25. How was he made acquainted with the 
true God 1 

A. There was in captivity at Babylon, a Jew, 
named Daniel, a prophet, who gave the king the 
knowledge of Jehovah, and foretold events rela- 
ting to the kingdom : he was also placed in a high 
station in the government of the realm. 

Q. 26. Whatwasthecharacter of the succeeding 
kings of Babylon 7 

A. The successors of Nebuchadnezzar were 
weak, effeminate and wicked. 

Q. 27. Who was the last Icing ? 

A. Belshazzar, supposed to have been the 
grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, by his impiety, 
subjected himself to the vengeance of God who 
brought on him the victorious arms of Cyrus. 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 2D 

Q. 28. Who was Cyrus ? 

A, Cyrus was the son of Cambyses, king of 
Persia and Mandane daughter of the king of Me- 
dia. 

Q,. 29. What was the condAtion of these coun^ 
tries ? 

A. Media was a powerful kingdom ; Persia, 
was at that time tributary to Astyages king of 
Media. 

Q. 30. What conquests did Cyrus 'previously 
make ? 

A. Cyrus was a consummate general and led 
the forces of his grandfather Astyages, to the con- 
quest among others of Croesus, king of Lydia. 

Q,. 31. How did, Cyrus take Babylon ? 

A. The height of the walls made it impossible to 
take the city by force, and the supply of provisions 
was such that it could not be compelled to surren- 
der by famine, Cyrus, therefore, had recourse to 
stratagem. 

Q,. 32. What stratagem did he conceive 1 

A. The river Euphrates flowed through the city; 
Gyrus dug another channel for the river, and di- 
verted its waters, then entered the city with his 
army, through the channel. 

Q,. 33. Hoio did he succeed I 

A. Cyrus found the king and his officers engaged 
in celebrating a festival, and overcome with drunk- 
enness. By the death of Belshazzar he destroyed 
the Babylonian empire and set up the Persian in 
its room. 

3* 



30 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY* 



SEVENTH PERIOD. 

Q. 1. How is this period divided 1 

A. The seventli period begins witK the capture 
of Babylon^ and ends with the destruction of the 
Persian empire ; including 207 years. 

Q. 2. WTiat event signalized the first year oj 
Cyrus % 

A. Cyrus having ascended the united throne of 
Media and Persia, and probably being made ac- 
quainted with the prophecies concerning himself, 
issued at the beginning of his reign, the famous 
decree to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem. 

Q. 3. What was the extent of the Medo- Per- 
sian empire ? 

A. The Persian empire, sometimes called the 
Second Universal Monarchy, included all the 
southwest of Asia. 

Q.. 4. What was the character of the Persian 
Jcings ? 

A. After Cyrus, these kings were noted only 
for luxury and tyranny : the empire was formida- 
ble only by its numbers and wealth. 

Q. 5. Who was the successor of Cyrus ? 

A. To Cyrus succeeded Cambyses, a madman 
and tyrant, who conquered Egypt, and reigned 
eight years. 

Q,. 6. Who was the third king ? 

A. For about a year after Cambyses, the royal- 
ty was usurped by Oropastes, a magian, who 



^mi, 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 31 

pretended to be Smerdis son of Cyrus, that had 
been murdered by his wicked brdther. 

Q,. 7. Who next ascended the throne t 

A. When the cheat was discovered, seven no- 
bles conspired against the Magian, put him to 
death, and made Darius one of their own number 
the 4th King. 

Q. 8. How did Dariits signalize his reign ? 

A. The reign of Darius is noted for the invasion 
first of Scythia and afterward of Greece. 

Q. 9. JVas he successful in his wars ? 

A. Darius gained no glory by his wars, he re- 
turned from both in disgrace. 

Q. 10. What noted hattle was fought in Greece ? 

A. In the Grecian war was fought the battle of 
Marathon, in which the numerous Persian host was 
routed by a handful of Greeks under Miltiades, 
490 B. C. He reigned 36 years. 

Q. 11. Who was the Fifth King 1 

A, To Darius succeeded his son Xerxes, a vain 
and weak prince, who prosecuted the Grecian war 
in person with the largest army ever collected, 
consisting, with all its attendants, of 2,000,000 
persons. 

Q. 12. Was his success equal to his numbers 1 

A. The multitude of this army rather increased 
its weakness. Leonidas, king of Sparta, withstood 
Xerxes at Thermopylas with only 300 men. 

Q. 13. Wliere were battles fought 1 

A, A sea-fight took place at Salamis, and a land 
battle at Platasa, in both which the Persians were 
defeated by much inferior forces. 



^Jt6^M 



32 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

Q,. 14. TVhat teas the termination of the expedi^ 
tlon ? 

A. At length the humbled monarch escaped into 
Ms own dominions in a fishing boat, and died after 
a reign of 20 years. 

Q,. 15. ^ywhom icas Greece defended against 
Xerxes ? 

A. The genius who chiefly defended his country 
against such imequal numbers was Themistocles 
the Athenian. 

Q,. 16. Who next assumed the royalty of Persia 1 

A. The son and heir of Xerxes was Artaxerxes, 
surnamed Longimanus. He is supposed to be 
Ahasuerus mentioned in the book of Esther. 

Q. 17. What are the most famous events of his 
reign t 

A. Artaxerxes gave liberty to the Jews to re- 
build the city of Jerusalem ; he also continued the 
war with Greece, and governed 40 years. 

Q,. 18. Who succeeded Artaxerxes .? 

A. Xerxes the second succeeded, but was soon 
murdered by his brother Sogdianus, who in turn 
was put to death by Darius 2d, surnamed Nothus. 
He ruled 19 years. 

Q,. 19. What other Persian kings succeeded 1 

A. After Darius, Artaxerxes Mnemon reigned 
40 years : then Artaxerxes Ochus 26. Arses 4 ; 
Darius Codomannus6. 

Q. 20. What was the end of this empire 7 

A. Under Darius the kingdom ^was invaded and 
utterly destroyed by Alexander the Great 331 B.C, 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 33 

Q,. 21. What were the most distinguished events 
in Greece 1 

A. The events most deserving of notice were 
the successful resistance of the Persian invasion, 
the Peloponnesian war, the short elevation of The- 
bes, and the battle of Cheronea, which subjected 
all Greece to the power of Macedon. 

Q,. 22. Wliat city was taken hy the Persians ? 

A. During the invasion of Xerxes, the Atheni- 
ans carried their wealth on board their ships and 
suffered their city to be taken and burnt by the en- 
emy. After their defeat it was rebuilt with greater 
splendour. 

Q. 23. What was the Peloponnesian war? 

A. The Peloponnesian war was fought betwen 
Sparta and Athens, and lasted 28 years, commenc 
ing 431 B. C. 

Q. 24. What ivas the issue ? 

A. This war was waged with uncommon fury, 
and ended in the humiliation of Athens, under the 
30 Lacedemonian tyrants. 

Q. 25. Who was king of Sparta ? 

A. Lysander, at this time ruled Sparta, a cele- 
brated general who warred against the Persian 
power in Asia Minor. 

Q,. 26. Who were the Athenian leaders 1 

A. During this war the Athenian democracy 
was led by Pericles and Alcibiades. At an earlier 
period Miltiades, Aristides, Themistocles and 
Cimon were famous. Phocion, Demosthenes and 
iEschines flourished at the close of this period. 



34 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 

Q. 27. W%at Jiistorians wrote at this time % 
A. The three most noted historians of this age 
were Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon. 
Q,. 28. Wliat did Herodotus ivrite .^ 
A. Herodotus is styled the " father of history," 
because he is the earliest profane historian. He 
wrote of the early times of Babylon, Persia, 
Egypt, Greece, and the neighbouring nations, and 
most we know of their early history is derived 
from his works. 

Q,. 29. WTiat is the work of Thucydides 1 
A. Thucydides composed an account of the 
Peloponnesian war, of which he was a witness 
and partaker. 

Q. 30. Who was Xenophon ? 
A. Xenophon was an Athenian philosopher, 
general and historian ; his works are among the 
most elegant compositions in the Greek language. 
Q. 31. What are some of his works'} 
A. Among other works, Xenophon wrote the 
life of Cyrus, and an account of the retreat of 
10,000 Greeks from Babylon to the Black Sea, 
pursued by all the power of Persia. This was 
one of the most famous warlike transactions of 
antiquity, of which the author was eye-witness and 
chief leader. 

Q,. 32. What was the state of literature and 
art 1 , 

A. This was the most celebrated age of Gre- 
cian literature and art, which were cultivated with 
attention, and carried to great perfection at Athens. 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 35 

Q. 33. What celehrated poets lived at tMs era ? 

A. There flourished at this period, the tragedi- 
ans, iEschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides — Aris- 
tophanes the comick poet, and Pindar, famous for 
odes. 

Q,. 34. What arts JlourisJied ? 

A. At this age, sculpture and architecture were 
carried to a pitch of perfection which was never 
before or since attained. 

Q, 35. When arose Greek philosophy ? 

A. Thales and Pythagoras, the earliest philo- 
sophers, lived before this period ; but Socrates the 
most celebrated philosopher flourished at this 
time : Plato and Aristotle his pupils, — Diogenes, 
Zeno and others towards its close. 

Q,. 36. What was the leading state of Greece ? 

A. Before the long and disastrous Peloponne- 
sian war, the chief rank was disputed by the 
Athenians and Lacedemonians. After that event, 
the latter bore unrivalled sway. 

Q. 37. What other state possessed a s7wrt supre- 
macy ? 

A. For a little time Thebes bore rule, having 
vanquished the Spartans in the battles of Leuctra 
and Mantinea, under their generals Pelopidas 
and Epaminondas. 

Q,. 38. What obscure state north of Greece he- 
camefamous 1 

A. The kingdom of Macedon attracted little 
notice till towards the close of this period, when 
Philip, its king, began to interfere in the affairs of 
Greece. 



36 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

Q. 39. What at length occurred ? 

A. At length, Philip, though opposed by tho 
eloquence of Demosthenes, overthrew the com- 
bined forces of Greece, and subverted their liber- 
ties in the battle of Cheronea 338 B. C. 

Q. 40. Did Philip long survive this victory ? 

A. Philip was assassinated soon after, but his 
son Alexander, the heir of his ambition as well as 
of his power, collected the forces of Greece and 
led them to the conquest of Asia. 

Q,. 41. What tvas the date oj this conquest ? 

A. Alexander entered the Persian dominions 
335 B. C His small but veteran army overcame 
the forces of Darius in three great battles. The 
last was at Arbela, 331 B. C. 40,000 Persians 
were slain, and the empire was destroyed. 

Q. 42. What was the condition of the Jeivs ?■ 

A. Agreeable to divine prediction, the Jews 
were restored to their own country, permitted to 
rebuild their temple and re-establish their worship. 

Q,. 43. Were they note independent 1 

A. The Jev/s were tributary to Persia, and en- 
joyed peace in submission to their sway. 

Q,. 44. Whence do we derive this knowledge ? 

A. Sacred history ceases with the books of 
Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. which relate to this 
period, about the time that profane history be- 
comes authentick. 

Q. 45. What was the condition of Rome at this 
time 1 

A. At the commencement of this period, Tar- 
quin the Proud, the last Roman King, sat on the 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 37 

throne, whicli he had mounted by the murder of 
his father-in-law, Servius Tullius. 

Q. 46. How was his administration conducted 1 

A. Tarquin governed with tyranny, and at 
length an outrage, committed by his son upon Lu- 
cretia, a noble lady, provoked the people to revolt. 

Q,. 47. What was the result of this revolt ? 

A. The citizens, headed by Brutus, expelled the 
Tarquin family, abolished royalty, and established 
a republick, of which the chief magistrates, two in 
number were called consuls, and elected annually. 

Q,. 48. Wlio first held the consular office 1 

A. Brutus and Collatinus were the first consuls 
509 B. C. 

Q. 49. Were they in a state of peace ? 

A. The new commonwealth was soon involved 
in war, first with the banished king, and then 
with the Etrurians and Latins. The Roman for- 
ces were generally victorious. 

Q. 50. Did they enjoy domestich tranquillity 1 

A. There arose internal dissensions betv/een the 
patricians or nobles, and the plebeians or common 
people. 

Q,. 51. What nearly ruined Rome about the 
year 490 1 

A. About twenty years after the banishment of 
Tarquin, Coriolanus, a noble Roman was banished, 
and joined their enemies the Volscians ; by them 
he was chosen general, and entered his native 
country with a powerful army. 

Q. 52. Wliat was the result ? 

A. Rome was in the power of the enemy, and 



\ ' 



38 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

had no other means of defence than the supph ca- 
tions of his mother, who was sent to depre- 
cate his wrath. Coriolanus yielded to her entrea- 
ties, spared his country, and was himself put to 
death by the Volscians as a traitor. 

Q,. 53. How did the jRx)man constitution change 7 

A. The republickwas at first an aristocracy, 
but the people, by dissensions and revolts, gradu- 
ally increased their power in the state, till it be- 
came almost a democracy. 

Q. 54. Wlien were laws enacted at Rome ? 

A. 301 years after the foundation of the city, 
and 450 B. C. Ten men entitled decemvirs were 
chosen to frame a code of laws. 

Q. 55. Whence did they derive their laws 1 

A. From Greece chiefly, they borrowed an ex- 
cellent system of laws entitled the Twelve Tables, 
because engraved on twelve tables of brass. 

Q,. 56. How did the decemvirs abuse tJieir 
power ? 

A. The decemvirs were chosen for only a year, 
but under various pretences they retained their 
power to the third year, and exercised it in a ty- 
rannical manner, 

Q,. 57. W7iat put an^end to their power ? 

A. After three years an insurrection was made, 
the decemvirs were compelled to resign and t<? 
commit suicide. 

Q. 58. What excited the sedition ? 

A. Appius Claudius, one of the decemvirs at- 
tempted the ruin of Virginia, a young Roman la- 
dy. Her father killed her with liis own liand, to 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 39 

save her from dishonour, and then excited the 
citizens to revolt. 

Q,. 59. What government was restored ? 

A. The executive povi^er was again intrasted 
to annual consuls. 

Q,. 60. What signal calamity befell the city 
after this t 

A. About 385 B. C. Rome was taken and 
burnt by a tribe of Gauls under Brennus. The 
citadel, or capitol, however, was not taken, and 
the city was soon recovered by the dictator, Ca- 
millus. 

Q. 61. What was the extent of the Roman do- 
7ninion ? 

A. The Roman territories were still inconside- 
rable. 

Q. 62. What conquests did they make ? 

A. The Romans conquered the JEqui, Volsci, 
Hernici, Falisci, and other small Italian states. 
At the end of this period, they were engaged in a 
war with the Samnites, a powerful nation in the 
southwest of Italy. 



EIGHTH PERIOD. 

Q. 1. With what epoch does this pefiod comr 
iftence 1 

A. The eightli period is marked by the subver- 



40 ELEaiENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORif. 

sion of the Persian, and establisliment of the Ma- 
cedonian empire. 

Q. 2. What is its extent ? 

A. From this time, it extends to the destruction 
of Carthage, 185 years. 

Q. 3. What was the extent of Alexander's con- 
qwcsts 7 

A. Alexander rapidly overran and subjugated, 
not only Persia, but Tyre, Egypt, and India as 
far as the Ganges, 

Q. 4. Was his power (permanent? 

A. The career of Alexander was short as it 
was bloody, for returning in triumph from his In- 
dian expedition, he halted at Babylon where he 
perished by a disease brought on by drunkenness, 
at the age of 33. 

Q,. 5. Who succeeded to his 'power % 

A. Alexander having no son of age, his generals 
usurped his power in several provinces, and des- 
troyed his children and all his kindred, and raised 
themselves to the royalty. 

Q. 6. How many kingdoms arose froin the Ma- 
cedonian ? 

A. The immense realm of Alexander was at 
length divided into four considerable monarchies ; 
viz. that of Ptolemy in Egypt ; that of Seleucus 
in Syria ; that of Cassander in Macedonia and 
Oreece, and that of Lysimachus in Bithynia and 
Thrace. 

Q. 7. Were these kingdoms permanent ? 

A. Tlie kingdoms of Ptolemy and Seleucus 
continued for several generations in their descend- 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY, 41 

®.nts. The others were subject to constant revolu- 
tions. 

Q,. 8. What was the condition of the Jews ? 

A. The Jews were tributary to the kings of 
Syria, and treated by them with favour and mode- 
ration. 

Q. 9. IVas tJiis always the fact ? 

A. Towards the close of this time, Antiochus 
Epiphanes,the Syrian king, attempted to abolish 
their religion and institutions, and subjected thera 
to violent persecutions. 

Q. 10. Was this atteinpi successful ? 

A. This cruelty excited the Jews to revolt and 
under Judas Maccabaeus, a Priest, they defeated 
the Syrians in several bloody battles, and for a 
time maintained their independence. 

Q. 11. What powers now rose in the East ? 

A. During this period were founded the king- 
dom of Parthia under Arsaces, also those of Cap- 
padocia, Armenia, Pontus and Pergamus. 

Q. 12. What was the condition of the Roman 
Repuhlich ? j 

A, At the beginning of this time the Romans 
were engaged in war with the Samnites, whom 
they subdued. 

Q,. 13. What more formidahle enem^ did they 
neat encounter ? 

A. The Tarentines were allies of the Samnites, 
and being unable to endure the Roman arms, they 
invited Pyrrhus, king of Epirus to their aid. 

Q. 14. Did Fyrrhus accept the invitation ? 

A. Accordingly Pyrrhus invaded Italy witli a 



42 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

powerful army, in which were several elephants, 
which had never before been seen in that country. 

Q,. 15. What was the issue of this war 1 

A. After defeating the Romans several times, 
Pyrrhus met with a signal defeat from the consul 
Fabricius, and retired into his own kingdom. 

Q. 16. What was now the extent of the Roman 
dominion ? 

A. The whole of Italy was now obedient to 
the imperial power of Rome. 

Q. 17. What other foreign state hecame their 
enemy ? 

A. The Roman state had long been jealous of 
the powerful commercial city of Carthage, and 
war arose between them, because the Carthagini- 
ans had aided the Tarentines against Rome. 

Q,. 18. How many wars took place between the 
rival powers 1 

A. Three wars, called the 1st, 2d and SdPunick 
wars, were waged with uncommon vigour and 
animosity. 

Q,. 19. What was the extent of the Carthagin- 
ian power ? 

A. Her commerce had made Carthage a rich 
and powerful state, for she possessed not only all 
the north of Africa, but Spain, Sardinia and Sicily. 

Q. 20. When commenced the frst Punickwar? 

A. The first contest between Carthage and 
Rome, began 264 B. C. and continued 23 years 
with various success. 

Q,. 21. Where was it mostly fought ? 

A, Sicily was the principal ^eatre of this 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 43 

war, and it now came into the power of the Ro- 
mans. 

Q,. 22. Did naval warfare cmnmence so early ? 

A. This contest was carried on with equal vig- 
our on land and at sea. 

Q. 23. JV7iic7i jparty was mctorious ? 

A. The Carthaginians were at first undisputed 
masters at sea, but the Romans under the consul 
Duilius, fitted out a fleet, and gained the first naval 
battle that they fought. 

Q,. 24. What Roman invaded Africa ? 

A. Kegulus, a Roman general, first carried the 
war into Africa. He at first encountered an enor- 
mous serpent and destroyed it with his warlike 
engines. It was 120 feet long, and its skin was 
preserved for a long time at Rome. 

Q,. 25. What was the end of this invasion ? 

A. At first Regulus was victorious over the en- 
emy, but at length was defeated and taken pris- 
oner. 

Q. 26. What was , the subsequent fate of 
Regulus ? 

A. Regulus, while a prisoner, was sent to Rome 
by his captors to propose peace, under a promise 
to return if unsuccessful. He advised his country- 
men not to make peace, returned to Carthage, and 
Buffered death with tortures. 

Q. 27. What was the end of this war 7 

A. At length, the Roman power prevailed, and 
peace was made on terms humbling to Carthage. 

Q. 28. What extraordinary event happened at 
the dose of this war ? 



44 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 

A. The temple of Janus was now shut, for the 
second time since the foundation of the city, 235 
B. C. 

Q. 29. What was intimated hy this? 

A. The temple of Janus at Rome, was always 
open in time of war, but shut in time of peace. 

Q. 30. iVhat occasioned the second Punick war? 

A. Hannibal, a noble Carthaginian, desirous of 
avenging the disgrace of the former war, besieged 
Saguntum, a Spanish city in alliance with the Ro- 
mans. 

Q. 31. What ivas the scene of this contest 7 

A. Hannibal's opinion ' was, that the Romans 
could be conquered only in Italy. He therefore 
collected a strong force in Spain, marched across 
the Pyrenees, through Gaul, and finally o^'er the 
Alps into that country. 

Q,. 32. What was the success of this invasion? 

A. Hannibal defeated the Romans in sever'al 
sanguinary battles, and brought the commonwealth 
to the brink of ruin. 

Q. 33. How toas the city defended? 

A. At length Fabius was made dictator, and 
saved his country by cautiously avoiding a battle. 
In this way, several years passed with no event 
of importance, while Hannibal's forces were di- 
minishing. 

Q. 34. Whither was the seat of war transfetred? 

A. In the mean time, Scipio, a young man of 
great ability was sent to Spain. He there over- 
came the enemy, and then in turn carried his- arms 
across the Straits to the very gates of Carthage. 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 45 

Q. 35. What loas the consequence ! 

A. To withstand Scipio, Hannibal was recalled 
from Italy, after he had there spent 16 years. 

Q. 36. What was the closing scene of this war ? 

A. The two greatest warriours of the age,Han- 
:iibal and Scipio, met in battle at Zama: the for- 
mer was totally defeated, and his country again 
breed to make a dishonourable peace, 202 B. C 

Q,. 37. In what other direction did Rome extend 
her arms 1 

A. The Romans began to interfere in the affairs 
)f the eastern nations. 
: Q. 38. J^ what vmrs did they engage ! 

A. They defeated the Macedonians, B.C. 197. 
TvTQ years afterwards, they were victorious over 
\.ntiochus the Great, king of Syria, and added 
^sia Minor to their provinces. Macedonia, under 
ts last king, Perseus, was subdued, 167 B. C. 
xreece submitted at the capture of Corinth, in the 
rear that closes this period, 146 B.C. 

Q,. 39. What occasioned the third Munich warl 

A. The Romans were the aggressors in the last 
var with Carthage. It was caused only by their de- 
erminationto complete the ruin of their hated rival. 

Q. 40. Were they unahle'to defend themselves ? 

A' The Carthaginians exerted every power for 
heir defence, but the invincible arm of Rome, 
nder another Scipio, prevailed. 

Q. 41. Hoiv long did this contest last ? 

A. After 4 years, Carthage was taken, the in- 
abitants massacred, and the city reduced to a 
eap of ruins, 146 B.C. 



46 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 



NINTH PERIOD. 



Q. 1. What length of time does the ninth pe- 
riod comprehend ? 

A. This period includes 146 years, from the 
ruin of Carthage to the Saviour's birth. 

Q. 2. What was the most powerful nation at 
this time ? 

A. At this time Rome was the most powerful 
nation, and her affairs are entangled with those of 
every other that history notices with certainty. 

Q. 3. What was now the Koman character 1 

A. The Romans were no longer poor and par- 
simonious, like their ancestors, but their foreign 
conquests had introduced with wealth and luxury, 
also vice and corruption. 

Q. 4. Wliat civil dissension arose 7 

A. Near the beginning of this period, two 
brothers named Tiberius and Caius Gracchus, by 
favouring the common people against the nobles, 
caused a revolt which ended in their destruction. 

Q,. 5. Were the Roinans still warlike 2 

Ay The corruption within, had not rendered the 
Romans less powerful abroad, they carried on 
many wars in which they were generally victori- 
ous. 

Q. 6. What was the first important war of this 
time ? 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HrSTORY. 47 

A. Numantia, then the largest city of Spain 
•was destroyed by Scipio, after the inhabitants had 
defeated a Roman army. Spain was made a Ro- 
man Province. 134 B. C. 

Q. 7. Whom did they next engage f 

A. The Roman arms next vanquished Jugartha^ 
the king of Numidia. 

Q. 8. WTiat was Jugurtha^s character? 

A. Jugurtha usurped the throne by murdering 
his cousins, the rightful heirs. He was cruel ana 
tyrannical. 

Q. 9. What was his fate 7 

A. Jugurtha was captured and condemned to 
be starved to death in. a dungeon. 

Q. 10. What celebrated Roman now distin- 
guished himself? 

A. In this war we first read of Marius, a rude 
soldier of fortune, but possessed of great abilities,, 
which made him so notorious, both in foreign and 
civil wars. 

Q. 11. Who was a rival of Marius ? 

A. Sylla also served in this war, in a subordin- 
ate station, but afterward contended with Marius 
for supreme power. 

Q,. 12. By whom was Italy invaded ? 

A. Italy was entered by the Teutones and the 
Cimbri, which were wandering tribes from Ger- 
many or the North of Europe. 

Q. 13. Who was sent against them ? 

A. These rude invaders were fought and nearly 
annihilated, by the Romans under Marius* 

Q,. 14. What was the next war ? 



48 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 

A. The next war was the Social, so called be- 
cause it was waged with the Italian allies of Rome 
who demanded the rights of citizens. 

Q. 15. What was the result? 

A. This war cost 300.000 lives. RoHie,-still 
led by Marius was victorious, but at length yield- 
ed the just demand of the allies. 91 B. C- was 
the date of this war. 

Q,. 16. What formidahle enemy rose in tJie east ? 

A. Mithridates, king of Pontus, by his great 
abilities, had extended his power over a great part 
of Asia and Greece. War arose because he invad- 
ed some allies of Rome, 

Q,. 17. Who was sent against him? 

A, The command of this war was given to Sylla, 
this displeased Marius who w'as jealous of him, 
and gave occasion to the violent quarrels between 
them. 

Q,. 18. What was the success of this war f 

A. Sylla was successful against Mithridates, de- 
feated him in two great battles, and recovered 
most of his conqinests. 

Q. 19. What occurred at Ro?ne in the mean^- 
time ? 

A. In Sylla's absence, the Senate being devoted 
to Marius, ordered him to return from Asia. He 
returned with his army, and expelled Marius and 
his party from the city. 

Q. 20. Whither did he now proceed ? 

A. Sylla now returned to Asia to finish the war 
he had begun. 

Q. 21. What occurred in his second absence ? 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 49 

A. In the mean time Marius returned, entered 
the city and made himself and Cinna, one of his 
party, consuls. They practised much cruelty to- 
wards the other party, and put many to death. 

Q,. 22. How was this revenged ? 

A. Sylla hastened to return, fought with his op- 
ponents and got possession of the city, and repaid 
this cruelty by putting to death numbers of his 
enemies. 

Q,. 23. What was the fate of Marius and Cinna? 

A. Marius and Cinna both died before the re- 
turn of their enemy ; the former by excess, the 
latter by assassination. 

Q, 24. Wliat office did Sylla assume ? 

A- Sylla was appointed perpetual dictator and 
managed every thing in a despotick manner for 
about three years. 

Q,. 25. What at length occurred ? 

A. At length the tyrant laid down his power, 
and retired into private life and died soon after a 
natural death. 

Q. 26. What leaders heganto he distinguished ? 

A. Pompey and Csesar, both of noble families, 
began to be popular, before the death of Sylla. 

Q. 27. What war arose in Spain ? 

A. Sertorius, who was attached to the faction 
of Marius, had been banished from Ilome. He re- 
tired to Spain where he raised a powerful body of 
forces. 
Q,. 28. How was he suhdued 7 

A, For eight years, Sertorius resisted the Ro- 
5 



50 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 

man arms led by Metellus and Pompey, and finally 
was only conquered by treachery. 

Q- 29. What 'insurrection arose in Italy ? 

A, In 73 B. C began the Servile War, or a re- 
volt of slaves : who, headed by Spartacus, held 
out for three years. They were at length subdu- 
ed and destroyed by Crassus. 

Q. 30. When commenced the second Mithrida' 
tic war ? 

A. Mithridates again commenced hostilities, 72 
B. C. He defeated the Romans and extended his 
power over most countries of the East. 

Q,. 31. What 2)ut an end to his power ? 

A. At length, Pompey the Great was sent 
ragainst Mithridates, who was deprived of his king- 
dom and life. 63, B. C. 

Q,. 32.. What other conquests did Pompey make ? 

A. Several eastern nations yielded to Pompey*s 
arms. Among the rest, Judea and its capital 
J erusalem were taken. 

Q. 33. BUiw was Rome endangered in Pornpey^s 
absence ? 

A. Sergius Cataline, a noble Roman of bad 
character, entered into a conspiracy to destroy the 
chief men and usurp the Government. 

Q,. 34. How was he opposed? 

A. The great orator Ci<;ero, who was consul 
that year, quelled this conspiracy with much abil- 
ity. Cataline was slain in battle and some of his 
adherents perished under the hands of the execu- 
tioner.. 

Q^ 35, How was liberty again endangered ? 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 51 

A. Three ambitious men, Cassar, Pompey, and 
Crassus, agreed to assist each other in obtaining 
the offices of government. This coalition was 
called the first triumvirate. 

Q,. 36. What command did each assume 1 

A. By each others' influence, Csesar was ap- 
pointed to command in Gaul, Crassus against the 
Parthians, and Pompey in Spain. This office, 
however, he discharged by proxy and resided 
himself at Rome. 

Q. 37. Who opposed their amhitious views 7 

A. The patriotickCicero was opposed to their 
ambitious views ; in consequence he was banished 
through their influence. 

Q. 38. Did Cicero long remain in exile ? 

A. After about a year's absence, Cicero was re- 
stored by the influence of Pompey, who began to 
be jealous of Caesar's increasing power. 

Q. 39. What wars did Coesar wage 1 

A. Csesar not only conquered all Gaul, but car- 
ried his victorious arms into Germany and Britain. 
The history of these exploits remains, elegantly 
written by himself. 

Q. 40. Were the Roman arms equally success- 
ful in Parthia ? 

A. Crassus entered Parthia with a numerous 
army, but through his incompetency to conduct it, 
it was totally destroyed and Crassus never re- 
turned. 

Q,. 41 What was the consequence of his death ? 

A. The death of Crassus put an end to the tri- 
umvirate. His power had been a check to both 



52 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORT. 

Osesar and Pompey, and on his deatli a civil war 
broke out between them. 

Q,. 42. W/mt were fJteir designs ? 

A. Both were selfish and ambitious, but Pom- 
pey was ambitious of glory rather than power, de- 
sirous of being the first in the state rather than to 
destroy its liberties. Ceesar could be satisfied 
only by the overthrow of the Republick. 

Q. 43, Who adhered to each 'i 

A. Cgesar was most popular with the common 
people : Pompey with the nobility and senate, 
Cicero and Cato joined his party. 

Q. 44. What ended the dissension ? 

A. This dispute was decided only by arms. 
Ceesar marched from Gaul into Italy with a pow- 
erful army, devoted to his interests. 

Q. 45. What was the consequence ? 

A. Pompey was compelled to leave Italy and 
raise forces in the East. Csesar pursued and over- 
came him in the plains of Pharsalia. 

Q. 46. What was the fate of JPompey ? 

A. Pompey being totally ruined, fled into Egypt, 
where he was basely murdered by order of Ptole- 
my its king. 

Q,. 47 what was the condition of the Repuhlickt 

A. Caesar subdued the remains of Pompey*s 
party in Africa, commanded by Scipio and Cato, 
afterward in Spain under Pompey's sons. He 
then returned in triumph to Rome, as undisputed 
master of his country. 

Q. 48. What title did he assume? 

A, Under the title of dictator, Csesar controlled 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 53 

all the affairs of Rome, though the forms of gov- 
ernment remained unchanged, and consuls were 
chosen annually. 

Q. 49. How did he exercise this power 7 

A. Csesar employed his power to promote the 
interests and happiness of the people. Far from 
imitating the cruelty of Marius and Sylla, he was 
merciful to those who had opposed him. Among 
others, Cicero was restored to his former dignity. 

Q. 50. Did he long retain his power ? 

A. Caesar was suspected of aiming at royalty, 
and 60 Senators, headed by Brutus and Cassius, 
conspired against him, and put him to death in the 
senate house, 44 B. C. 

Q,. 51. Was the commonwealth restored to liberty 1 

A. The Roman people were no longer able to 
enjoy liberty. They soon expelled their deliver- 
ers and submitted to new despots. 

Q. 52. Who attained power after Ccesar 1 

A. The chief candidates for power were Marc 
Anthony, an adherent, andOctavius, grand nephew, 
and adopted son of Ccesar. At first they were 
jealous of each other, but at length united their 
interests, and with Lepidus, a man of immense 
wealth formed the second triumvirate. 

Q,. 53. How did the tri%mvirs exercise their 
power 1 

A. The triumvirs cemented their union in the 
blood of their best friends, who were given up to 
the revenge of each other. Among others, Cicero 
the great orator was murdered by Anthony, whom 
he had incensed by his orations against him. 

5* 



54 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 

Q. 54. How did they conjirin their fowcr 7 

A. The forces of the triumvirs met those of Bru- 
tus and Cassius at Philippi and totally defeated 
them, thus making them undisputed masters of the 
Roman world. 42, B. C 

Q. 55. What was the end of Brutus and Cassius? 

A. When the battle went against them, Cassius, 
and afterwards Brutus, killed themselves, as many 
Romans did. 

Q. 56. JVhat remarkailejact is stated of the 
assasshis of CoesarJ 

A. It is said that of the 60 senators who con- 
spired against Caesar, not one died a natural death, 
but all perished by violence sooner or later. 

Q. 57. What event next deserves notice ? 

A, Lepidus was forsaken by his soldiers who 
came over to the interest of Octavius. The for- 
mer was deposed and banished, 

Q. 58. Whither did Antony proceed! 

A. Antony passed through Greece and Asia, 
exercising his power among the tributaries and 
allies of Rome, while Octavius remained at Rome 
courting the favour of the people. 

Q. 59. What at length occurred? 

A. At length a dissension arose between them 
■which could only be decided by arms. A naval 
battle was fought at Actium, in which the fleet of 
Octavius under Agrippa gained a complete victory 
over that of Antony. 

Q. 60. Whither did Antony flee? 

A. Antony took refuge in Egypt, whither he 
was pursued by his rival and compelled to de- 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY 55 

stroy himself. Octavius was lord of the Roman 
world, no long^er a Rcpublickbutan Empire. 

Q. 61. How did Octavius exercise his power t 

A. Octavius now exercised his power with 
moderation, and under the names and forms of the 
ancient government. 

Q. 62. What name was given to Octavius? 

A. The senate conferred on Octavius the title 
of Augustus, the nohle^ by which he is commonly 
known. 

Q. 63. How is this perpetuated? 

A. The month of August received its name 
from Augustus, as that of July from Julius, one of 
the names of Ceesar. 

Q,. 64. Was Rome still engaged in foreign war ? 

A. Augustus was cowardly and destitute of mili- 
tary talents. No foreign war of importance was 
carried on, the temple of Janus was closed the 
third time after the foundation of the city. 

Q. 65. What was the state of Roman literature 
in this period ? 

A. It was not till this period that the Latin be- 
came a polished language, and the time of Augus- 
tus is justly styled the golden age of Roman litera- 
ture, 

Q. 66. Who patronized literature 1 

A. Augustus himself, and Maecenas his chief 
tninister and friend, distinguished themselves as 
patrons of literature. 

Q. 67. What poets flourished at this time 1 
I A The names most famous in poetry, are Vir- 



5;6 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

gil for Epic poetry, Horace for Odes and Satires, 
and Ovid for Elegies. 

Q,. 68. JV/iat other writers are famous ? 

A. Among the Roman Historians the chief are 
Livy, Sallust and Julius Caesar. Cicero was the 
greatest orator and philosopher. Varro was called 
the most learned of the Romans. 
, Q. 69. What is the work of Virgil 'i 

A. The work which makes Virgil most famous 
is the ^Eneid, describing the migration of JEneas 
from Troy, and his settlement in Italy. 

Q,. 70. What are the compositions of Livy ? 

A, Livy is the author of a voluminous history 
of Rome from the time of ^neas to his own, 
Most of his work has perished. 

Q. 71. What remains of Sallust ? 

A. Nothing of Sallust's works remains, but two 
slwrt books, one on the war against Jugurtha, the 
other on the conspiracy of Cataline. 

Q. 72. What did Cassar ivrite ? 

A. C^sar wrote commentaries or memoirs of 
his own wars in Gaul, his style is pure and ele- 
gant. He was also a great orator. 

Q,, 73. What other nations deserve notice duvi 
ing this period ? 

A. It is proper to take further notice of Syria, 
Parthia, Egypt and Judea. 

Q. 74. What was the state of Syria ? 

A. Syria was governed by the descendents of 
Seleucus, but its affairs were in confusion, ancf 
often distjLirbed by revojts and usurpations, 



KLE:»IEi\TS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 61 

Q,. 75. ^Vhen did it lose its independence 1 

A. At lengtli, Pompey the Great, after his con- 
quest of Mithridates king of Pontus, reduced 
Syria to a Roman Province. 

Q,. 76. What is known of Partliia? 

A, Parthia was a powerful kingdom whose his- 
tory is little known. It was governed by the 
descendants of Arsaces, its founder^ 

The Parthians gained a complete victory over 
Crassus, and took the standards of his army as tro- 
phies. In the time of Augustus, they were, how- 
ever, induced by the fear of Rome to give them 
up again. 

Q. 77. Who were kings of Egypt 7 

A. During almost all this period, the family of 
Ptolemy sat on the throne of Egypt. They were 
often engaged in war with the kings of Syria. 

Q,. 78. What was the capital of Egypt ? 

A. The Ptolemies had their capital at Alexan- 
dria, a City celebrated for population, commerce 
and literature. 

Q. 79. Who first founded a library 1 

A. Ptolemy Lagus, the founder of the Dynasty 
"Was a zealous patron of learning, and laid the 
foundation of the great library at Alexandria, 
which is the first mentioned by the arfcients. 

Q. 80. What sacred hooks did Ptolemy Phildr 
delphus obtain ? 

A. It is said that the second of the family caus- 
ed the bible to be translated into Greek. This 
translation is called the Septuagint. 

Q. SI. Who was the last sovereign of his family 1 



58 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

A. The last of the family was Cleopatra, a queen 
celebrated for beauty and aceomplishments. 

Q. 82. When did Cleoj)atra reign? 

A. When Cassar pursued Pompey into Egypt, 
he found a civil war subsisting between this female" 
and her brother to whom she was married, as was 
usual with this family as well as the Persian kings. 

Q. 83. WTiat was the result ? 

A. Caesar was captivated by the beauty of 
Cleopatra, and gave her the kingdom, in opposi- 
tion to her brother. 

Q. 84. What other Roman was captivated hy 
Iter 1 

A. After Caesar's death, Marc Antony visited 
Egypt and was also fascinated by her arts, and 
sacrificed his ambition for the sake of her society. 

Q. 85. What at length occurred 1 

A. At the battle of Actium, Cleopatra assisted 
Antony with her ships, but during the engage- 
ment she fled and caused the discomSture of the 
whole fleet. 

Q, 86. Whither did she flee I 

A. Cleopatra returned home, followed by An- 
tony. Thither Octavius pursued them, and the 
queen destroyed herself to avoid becoming sb 
prisoner. Egypt was made a Roman Province, 
30 B. C. 

Q,. 87. What was the condition of the Jews ? 

A. During most of this period, the Jews were 
governed by the family of Judas Maccabaeus, 
commonly called the Amoriean Dynasty. 

Q,. 88. What title did they assume ? 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 59 

A. At first, these rulers had the name of high 
priests, but at length they adopted the title, as 
well as gained the power of kings. 

Q. 89. How did they conduct the government ? 

A. These princes generally conducted with 
ability, sometimes they maintained their indepen- 
dence, while at others they were forced to pay 
tribute to the kings of Syria or Egypt. 

Q. 90. Who was the last king rf this family ? 

A. When Syria and all the east submitted to 
Rome under Pompey, Aristobulus, the last king 
was sent to Rome as a prisoner. 

Q. 91. On whom was the government conferred'^ 

A. Antipater, a native of Idumea was made 
king by Pompey, 63 B. C. — ^Herod the Great, son 
of Antipater succeeded him, 37 B. C. and held the 
royalty till the Saviour's birth. 

Q,. 92. What was Herod^s character ? 

A. Herod was a cruel tyrant, he displayed 
his cruelty even to his own family, for he put to 
death his virife and three sons. 

Q,. 93. What great event occurred in Judea at 
the close of this period. 

A' At length in fulfilment of prophecies, Jesus 
Christ, the Saviour of men was born at Bethle- 
hem. His mother was Mary, a virgin of the royal 
family of David. 

Q. 94. Wherein do we find an account of him 
and his mission ? 

A. The New Testament Scriptures contain the 
account of his life and death, but in all important 
particulars they are corroborated by profane his- 
tory. 



60 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORV« 



TENTH PERIOD. 



'Q. 1. W^hat is the extent of this period ? 

A. The tenth period extends from the Saviour^d 
fcirth, to the accession of Constantine to the Em- 
pire of Rome, 306 years. 

Q,. 2. What may he said of the hirth of Christ 1 

A. The birth of Christ was the most important 
of all terrestrial events, and is properly made the 
epoch from which we compute time. 

Q,. 3 What is the true date of this event ? 

A. At the beginning of the vulgar era, Jesus 
is supposed to have been four years old. He was 
born in the 27th year of i^ugustus, 748 years after 
the foundation of Rome and 4000 after the Cre- 
ation. 

Q. 4. What was the object of his coming into 
the world 1 

A. The Son of God was made flesh, to atone for 
sin, and to reveal and establish a universal religion. 

Q. 5. To whom was the knowledge of the true 
God confined 7 

A, Till this event, none were acquainted with 
the true God or his worship, but the Jews ] all 
other nations, even the most civilized were sunk 
in brutal heathenism. 

Q. 6. What preparation had been made for his 
coming I 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY, 61 

A, Providence seems to have prepared the way 
for the Saviour, by bringing the whole known 
world under the Roman power. 

Q. 7. What was the condition of the Empire ? 

A. At that time the gate of Janus was shut, in-! 
timating universal peace. 

Q,. 8. What was thepolitical condition qfJudea ? 

A. Herod was king of the Jews, but tributary 
to Rome. He died soon after and was succeeded 
by his son Archelaus, Archelaus was deposed and 
the country made a Roman Province, A. D. 6. 

Q,. 9. When did Augustus die ? 

A, In A. D. 14, Augustus died, aged 76, after 
ruling his country 44 years, commencing at the 
battle of Actium. 

Q. 10. Who succeeded Augustus ? 

A. Tiberius, the step»son of Augustus, accord-' 
mg to his will succeeded to his authority, 

Q. 11. What was his character 1 

A. Tiberius, was at first moderate and prudent, 
but at length he became a monster of wickedness 
and cruelty. 

Q. 12. How long did he hold the sceptre ? 

A. After reigning 22 years, Tiberius came to 
his end by violence, A. I). 37, at the age of 78. 

Q. 13. What great event occurred in his reign ? 

A. In the latter part of his reign, Jesus Christ 
began his publickministry, and expiated for sins 
by suffermg on the cross, This was in the 33d, 
year of uor era, 

Q. J4. IIow 2vas Jiis religion propagated 1 

A. Our Saviour rose fronj the dead on the third 
6 



i62 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 

<Jay, aixi commissioned his disciples to publish 
salvation through him to all nations. 

Q,. 15. X)id it spread with rapidity ? 

A. The Christian religion soon spread into all 
parts of the empire. 

Q. 16, Wlio was the successor of Tiberius ? 

A. Tiberius left the empire to Caligula, his 
grand nephew, who was a monster more detesta- 
ble» if possible, than his predecessor, 

Q. 17. How long was his reign? 

A. This tyrant reigned 3 years. He then per- 
ished by violence, aged 29, A. D. 41. 

Q. IS. Who followed Caligula? 

A. The next emperor was Claudius, the uncle 
of Caligula, who was proclaimed by the soldiers. 

Q. 19. What was his character ? 

A. Claudius was a man of weak understanding ; 
he was led by his advisers into acts of cruelty and 
profligacy. 

Q. 20, W7iat military enterprise was under- 
taken ? 

A. This reign was marked by the invasion of 
Britain. After several years of war, much of the 
island was subdued. 

Q,. 21. How did Claudius come to his end? 

A. His infamous wife, Agrippina, after per- 
suading the emperor to appoint Nero, her son by 
a former marriage, his heir, murdered him to make 
way for her son's elevation. 

Q. 22. How long did Claudius reign ? 

A. This emperor perished in the 15th year of 
his reign, at the age of 63, A. D. 54, 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. G3 

Q. 23. What teas the j^opulation of Rome at 
this time? 

A. The city of Rome was now at the height of 
its splendour, and is said to have contained seven 
inillions of inhabitants. 

Q. 24. What was the character of Nero ? 

A. Nero was at first, humane and moderate, but 
despotickpower converted him into an odious and 
murderous tyrant. 

Q. 25. How ivas his cruelty displayed 1 

A. Nero put to death his mother and his wife 
with many others. He set the city on fire to en- 
joy the sight, and he then charged the crime on the 
christians, whom he persecuted with cruel tor- 
tures and death. 

Q.. 26. How many persecutions of tke christians 
were there 1 

A. During this period there are reckoned ten 
•general persecutions, of w^hich this under Nero 
was the first. 

Q. 27. What ifccurred in Britain ? 

A. The Britons under queen Boadicea revolted 
from-the Romans, but were subdued with great 
slaughter. 

Q. 2%. What other war was carried on ? 

A. Corbulo, a great general waged war with 
the Parthians, and conquered them in several 
/battles. 

Q. 29. How did Nero die ? 

A. At length, two generals Vindex and Galba 
ii'ose against Nero. Forsaken by the people, he 



64 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

ordered a slave to take liis life in tlie 30th year of 
his age, and 15th of his reign, A. D. 69. 

Q. 30. Who succeeded Nero ? 

A. Galba, an old soldier and good general was 
proclaimed emperor, but he ruled only seven 
months. 

Q. 31. TV7iat was Ms character ? 

A. Gralba was severe in government and par- 
simonious in expenses. These qualities made him 
unpopular, and Otho raised a revolt in which 
Galba perished, aged 78. 

Q. 32. How long ivas Otho's reign ? 

A. Otho retained the sovereignty a still shorter 
period, Vitellius,commander in G-ermany,contested 
his claims to the throne and defeated him near 
Mantua. Otho committed suicide after reigning 
95 days, 69 A. D. 

Q. 33. Did the conqueror enjoy the empire I 

A. Vitellius reigned eight months. He was * 
another monster of vice and cruelty. 

Q. 34. Who was the next emperor I 

A. Vespasian, who commanded the array in 
the east, was proclaimed emperor by his soldiers. 
He marched into Italy and took possession of the 
government without much opposition. Vitellius 
was put to death, A. D. 70. 

Q. 35. What was the character of Vespasian ? 

A. This emperor was a man of abilities and at 
the same time just and benevolent as a ruler. 

Q. 36. What important war was terminated in 
his reign ? 

A. Vespasian had been sent by Nero to quell 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 65 

an insurrection of the Jews. On liis accession 
lo the Empire, he left the army in the command 
of his son Titus, who brought the war to an end. 

Q. 37. IVhat was tlie fortune of the Jews 1 

A. The Jews, in fulfilment of prophecy, were 
given over to destruction. They resisted with ob- 
stinacy, expecting the miraculous protection of 
God. At the same time they murdered each other 
with cruelty. 

Q. 3S. What at length occurred 1 

A. Titus laid siege to Jerusalem, took it, and 
utterly destroyed it, with its temple. One million 
of persons perished at the siege. Others were 
made slaves, and others dispersed throughout the 
world. 

Q. 39. How long was Vespasian's reign ? 

A. After a reign of 10 years, Vespasian died 
at the age of 70, by disease ; the first Emperor 
since Augustus that did not perish by violence* 
He died A, D. 79. 

Q. 40. Who was his successor 1 

A. Titus was emperor after his father, but only 
for about 2 years ; he was 41 years old. Domiti- 
an, his brother and successor, is suspected of his 
murder. 

Q,. 41. What was the character of this prince? 

A. Besides his talents in war, Titus is reckoned 
one of the most virtuous and benevolent of men. 
He is said to have exclaimed at the close of a day 
on which he had conferred a benefit on no one, I 
have lost a day. 

Q. 42. What natural phenomenon occurred at 



*x:^ 



time? 



66 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 

A. In the reign of Titus, Mount Vesuvius, 
which had been dormant from time immemorial, 
burst forth and buried Pompeii and Herculane- 
um, the former with ashes, the latter with lava. 
The mountain has been burning ever since, and 
these cities have lately been partially uncovered. 

Q. 43. Did Domitian imitate his father and, 
brother f 

A. This emperor was fully equal to the worst 
of his predecessors, in tyranny, as well as in de- 
testable vices. His chief amusement was to catch 
and kill flies in his chamber. 

Q. 44. What foreign war was carried on 1 

A. Agricola, an able general, pursued the con- 
quest of Britain, but he was recalled and murdered 
by the envious tyrant. 

Q. 45. How did he treat Christians ? 

A. There now occurred the second general 
persecution of the Christians. It was at this time 
that John was banished to the island of Patmos, 
where he wrote the book of Revelation, the lasi 
book of the Scriptures; he died soon after. 

Q. 46. What closed Domitian's career ? 

A. A conspiracy, instigated by his wife, de- 
stroyed Domitian, after a reign of 15 years, A.D. 
96. 

Q,. 47. By what name are these emperors 
called ? 

A. Domitian and his predecessors, including 
Julius, are often called the twelve Cassars. 

Q. 48. What honours were coiff erred on them ? 

A. So foolish were the heathen of those days. 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 67 

that these men, even the monsters of wickedness, 
were worshipped as gods, after death, and even 
while living. 

Q,. 49. Who succeeded to the empire? 

A. Nerva was selected by the senate for tte 
high station of emperor; but he lived only 1 year 
and 4 months. He died A. D. 98, and left the em- 
pire to Trajan. 

Q. 50. W7io was Trajan ? 

A. This emperor was a native of Seville, in 
Spain, and one of the best emperors, and most 
able and virtuous men, that ever ruled the em- 
pire, 

Q,. 51. JVhat additions did he fnaJce to his, dor 
minions? 

A. Trajan conqu-ered Dacia, and erected a pillar 
that still remains at Rome, as a memorial of his 
victory. He also waged war with the Parthians, 
and took Ctesiphon, their capital. 

Q,. 52. Hoiv did he treat the christians 1 

A. This prince, otherwise just and humane, 
carried on the third general persecution of the 
christians. His directions on the subject to Pliny, 
governor of Bithynia, still remain. 

Q,. 53. How long was Trajan's reign 1 

A. After a reign of 19 years, Trajan died, aged 
63, A. D. 118. Adrian was his successor. 

Q. 54. What was his character ? 

A. Adrian was a good emperor, and active in 
the duties of his station. He reigned 20 years, 
and died A. D. 138, aged 72. 



68 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 

Q. 55. What unfortunate people revolted 1 

A. The Jews had the boldness to revolt, but 
the insurrection was quelled with great slaughter, 
and a decree passed, that no Jew should go with- 
in sight of Jerusalem. 

Q,. 56. Who next assumed the purple ? * 

A. Titus Antoninus Pius was adopted by 
Adrian as his successor, A. D. 138. He was also 
an able and virtuous monarch. He reigned 22 
years, and died, A. D. 161, aged 74. 

Q. 57. Who was his successor 1 

A. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus succeeded Pius, 
in consequence of his adoption. He associated 
"with himself, his brother, Lucius Verus. 

Q. 58. What were their characters 2 

A. Aurelius was a man of learning, virtue and 
prudence ; his brother quite the contrary. Verus, 
however, soon died and left him sole emperor. 

Q. 59. Did, he persecute christians ? 

A. The heathen priests, by false accusations, ex 
cited the fourth persecution in his time. 

Q,. 60. How long was his reign 1 

A. While visiting the provinces of his empire, 
he died in Pannonia, aged 59, in the 19th year of 
his reign, A. D. 180. 

Q,. 61. Who was son and successor of Aurelius? 

A. Commodus, one of the vilest of the empe- 
rors, succeeded his father. He was assassinated 
after a reign of 12 years, aged 32, A.D. 193. 

• The emperors wore purple robes, "to put on purple'* 
was to become emperor. 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 69 

Q,. 62. Who was next elevated to the imperial 
throne? 

A. Pertinax was made emperor by the conspi- 
rators and soldiers, but his government being too 
strict and virtuous, they murdered him three 
months after, aged 68. 

Q. 63. How was a successor appointed ? 

A. The soldiers who guarded the city, called, 
the praetorian guards, put up the office of empe- 
ror to the highest bidder. Didius Julianus bought 
it for nearly 9,000,000 of our dollars. 

Q. 64. Did he long enjoy his purchase? 

A. Septlmius Severus, a daring general, did not 
submit to this choice, but marched to Rome. The 
people deserted Didius, who was put to death af- 
ter an elevation of 5 months. 

Q,. 65. Who was Severus ? 

A. This emperor was by birth an African, of a 
military genius, and just and prudent in govern- 
ment. He subdued Niger and Albinus, who set 
up as rivals, and built a wall across the island of 
Britain to secure the province against the Caledo- 
nians. 

Q,. 66 W%ere did Severus die ? 

A. Severus came to his end on his expedition 
to Britain, at York, aged 66, A. D. 211, after a 
reign of 18 years. 

Q. 70. To whom did he bequeath the empire ? 

A. To Severus succeeded his two sons. Caracal- 
la and Geta, the former of a vicious and cruel, the 
latter of a mild and gentle spirit. 



70 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 

Q. 68. What was the result ? 

A. Caracalla murdered his brother in his mo- 
ther's arms, and then displayed his tyranny in ma- 
ny other acts of murder, extravagance and atrocity. 

Q,. 69. Hoio long was his reign ? 

A. After 6 years, this monster was assassinated 
at the instigation of Macrinus, who succeeded 
him, A. D. 217. 

Q,. 70. What was his character? 

A. Macrinus was too severe in restraining his 
soldiers, who forsook him and set up Heliogaba- 
lus, natural son of Caracalla. He reigned only 
14 months. 

Q. 71. How old was this emperor? 

A. Heliogabalus was only 14 years old. His 
reign was full of cruelty, extravagance and folly ,^ 
till he was killed by the soldiers in his 4th year, 
A.D.222. 

Q,. 72. Who succeeded him ? 

A. Alexander Severus, cousin of the last empe- 
ror, was appointed by him his successor. He was 
only sixteen years old, but possessed all the dig- 
nity of manhood. 

Q. 73, How did he conduct the government? 

A. Severus was able and successful both in 
peace and war, virtuous and frugal. He was 
taught, in some degree, the doctrines of the Christ- 
ians, and proposed to admit Jesus Christ into the 
number of the gods he worshipped. , 

Q,. 74. What expedition did he undertake ? || 

A. Severus marched against the Parthians and '! 
Persians, and defeated the latter in a great battle. 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 71 

Q. 75. How did this emperor come to his death ? 

A. Alexander Severus was assassinated in the 
14th year of his reign, and 29th of his age, at the 
instigation of Maximinus, who sacceeded him. 
Q. 76. Who was Maximinus? 
A. The next emperor was a Thracian shepherd, 
who gradually rose in the army. He was of gi- 
gantickstature, being 8 feet high. 

Q. 77. W/iat is related of his character and 
government ? 

A. Maximinus was ferocious and cruel in his 

, government, and persecuted the christians. After 

a reign of 3 years, he provoked his soldiers to 

such a degree, that they murdered him in his tent, 

, A. D. 238. 

Q. 78. Who was next elevated to the throne? 
A. Gordian, a youth of sixteen, received the 
choice of the soldiers, and reigned six years with 
great ability. 

Q. 79. By whom was the empire invaded ? 
A. The Persians on the east, and the Goths on 
the north, attacked the Roman dominions, but 
were both repulsed. Gordian died by the treach- 
ery of Philip, M'-ho was praetorian prefect, or com- 
mander of the guards, A. D. 244. 
Q. 80. Who succeeded Gordian ? 
A, Philip assumed the purple, which he retain- 
^ ed 5 years, when he was himself murdered. His 
' successor was Decius, A. D. 249. 

Q. 81. What loas the character of Dficius 1 
I A. This emperor was an able and wise prince^ 
I but he reigned only 2 years and a half. Whil© 



72 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

engaged in a war with tlie Goths, he was cut oif' 
by the treachery of Gallus, one of his officers, 
A.D. 251. 

Q. 82. Did Gallus enjoy the reward of hu\ 
crime ? 

A. Gallus's reign was no longer than that of 
his predecessor ; he died in consequence of a re-!* 
bellion of ^milianus, one of his generals. 

Q,. 83. W7io was set up in his room ? 

A. Valerian was made emperor, A. D. 254. Ho 
engaged in war with Persia, and was taken pri- 
soner by Sapor, king of that country, who put 
him to death with cruelty. He reigned six years, 
and was succeeded by his son Gallienus. 

Q. 84. When did his accession occur? 

A. Gallienus ascended the throne A. D. 260. 
He was a weak and indolent prince. After eight 
years he came to a violent end. 

Q. 85. Wh^ was the next emperor 1 

A. Flavins Claudius assumed the empire, A. D. 
268. He WELS a good and prudent prince ; but his 
reign lasted only 2 years. 

Q,. 86. What wars were waged hy this prince T 

A. The empire was invaded on the north by 
the Goths and other barbarous tribes, Claudius 
withstood them with success. 

Q. 87. Who was next appointed emperor 7 

A. Aurelian was chosen to the supreme power, 
A. D. 270. He was courageous and warlike,, and 
reigned nearly five years. 

Q. 88. What war occurred in the east ? 

A' Zenobia, queen of Palmyra, engaged in a 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. T3 

war with Aurelian, but was taken captive, and her 
•minister, Longinus, the famous critick, was put to 
death by the cruel emperor. 

Q. 89. Who succeeded Aurelian^ 

A. Tacitus, an aged but worthy man, assullied 
the sovereignty, but retained it only six months. 

Q. 90. Who was the next in order l 

A. Probus was next in succession, a man of 
great bravery and activity. He was killed after 
seven years by a conspiracy of the army, A. J), 
282. 

Q. 91. Who was the next prince ? 

A. Carus was elected by the army, A. D. 282. 
He associated with himself, his two sons, Carinus 
t^jid Numerian; but all died in about two years. 

Q. 92. Who was next in order? 

A. Diocletian put on the purple, A. D. 284. 
He was a prince of great ability. In 286, he as- 
sociated with him, Maximian. In 294 two others, 
Galerius and Constantius Chlorus, were admitted 
to an inferior degree of power, under the title of 
Caesars. 

Q. 93. How did they conduct the government? 

A. The state was governed with ability, and de- 
fended against the constant incursions of barba- 
rous nations. 

Q,. 94. What extraordinary circumstance is rela- 
tated of Diocletian ? 

A, At length, A. D. 304, Diocletian resigned 
his authority, retired to his native village, and lived 
as a private man. He persuaded Maximian to 
^ (the same. 

7 



74 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

Q,. 95. Who were their successors ? i 

*Q.. Gonstantius and Galerius, the two Ceesars, j 
succeeded to the supreme dignity. Gonstantius! 
governed the west, and Galerius the east. They 
made Severus and Maximian their partners in 
power. 

Q. 96. How long did this state of things con- 
tinue 7 

A, After 2 years, A. D. 306, Gonstantius died at 
York, in Britain, and left the empire to Gonstan- 
tine his son. 

Q. 97. Wliy is his accession an important 
epoch ? 

A. The reign of Gonstantine is an epoch in his- 
tory, because he was the first emperor that profess- 
ed to believe in Ghrist, and made his religion the 
religion of the nation. 

Q. 98. What miracle is said to have occurred ? 
'A. It is said that Gonstantine saw the figure of 
a cross in the heavens, which he made the device 
of his standards. 

Q. 99. WJiat was the state of Roman literature? 

Jl, The Latin writers of this age are inferior to 
those of the preceding, though many were distin- 
guished in poetry, history, and other kinds of 
composition. 

Q. 100. What other nations deserve notice? 

Jl. The Parthian and Persian kingdoms were 
almost the only nations of the known world, that 
were independent of Rome. 

Q. 101. How long did the Parthian subsist? 

A. About 223 A.D. this kingdom came to an 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 75 

end, and the Persian was founded on its ruins by 
Artaxares. It lasted 475 years. 

Q,. 102. What was the condition of this king" 
dom 1 

A. Under the successors of its founder, Per- 
sia was a powerful kingdom and often engaged 
in war with the Romans with various success. 



ELEVENTH PERIOD. 

Q,. 1. What are tJie limits of this feriodl 

A. The eleventh period extends from the acces- 
sion of Constantine, 306, to the subversion of the 
Western Empire of Rome, A. D. 476, including 
170 years. 

Q. 2. jyid Constantine reign alone 1 

A. At his accession, Constantine had three or 
four partners, or rather rivals, in the empire, but 
One was subdued after another, till at length he 
was sole lord of the Roman world. 

Q,. 3. What is said of his conversion ? 

A. About 5 years after his accession, this em- 
peror professed to become converted to Christiani- 
ty, and publicklyfavoured christians. 

Q,. 4. What was his character ? 

A. Constantine possessed little of the mild spirit 
of Christianity, in his publick administration, or his 
private character. He was imperious and severe. 



76 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY, 

Q,. 5. What city did lie foimd ? 

A. This emperor built a city near the Bospho-i' 
ruSj and nained it'Constantinople,that is the city of 
Constantine, which name it still retains. Thither 
he transferred the government from Rome. 

Q. 6. Hoio long was his reign 1 

A» After thirty years, Constantino died at Ni- 
comedia, aged 63, while on an expedition against 
the Persians. A.D. 336. 

Q, 7, To lohom did he assign the succession ? 

A. Constantino divided the empire among his 
three sons, Constantino, Constans, and Constantius, 
but by the death of the first two, Constantius, the 
youngest, was left sole emperor. 

Q. 8. Hoto long loas his reign 1 

A» This emperor ruled 24 years in misfortune 
and disgrace, and left the empire to his cousiij 
Julian, called the Apostate. 

Q,. 9. Why did he receive this title ? 
^ A. Julian forsook the christian religion, and at^ 
tempted to destroy it and restore the pagan super? 
stition. 

Q. 10. How did he attempt to destroy christian^ 
ityl 

A. Julian did not persecute christians, but ex- 
cluded them from offices, and the advantages of 
knowledge; he also determined to rebuild the 
Jewish temple at Jerusalem, in order to disprove 
the Saviour's prophecy of its destruction. His de?- 
sign is said to have met with miraculous oppo^- 
sition. 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 77 

Q,. 11. In what war did Julian engage 7 

A. Julian invaded Persia with a powerful ar- 
my, but was drawn by treachery into an unfavourr 
able country, where he was attacked by his ene- 
jnies and slain in battle, A. D. 363, after a reign of 
3 years. 

Q,. 12. Who succeeded Julian ? 

A. The soldiers elected Jovian to the empire ;; 
he saved the army from ruin only by making a 
disgraceful peace with the Persians, and ceding to 
them several provinces. 

Q,. 13. What was tJie character of Jovian ? 

A. This prince ruled with ability, and re-esta- 
blished the true religion^ but he died after a reign 
^f only seven months. 

Q. 14. Who was the next emperor ? 

A. Valentinian was chosen by the army to sucr 
«eed Jovian, A. D. 364. He divided his power 
with his brother Valens, assigning to him the east- 
,ern and retaining the western part. 

Q,. 15. What was the character of Valentinian? 

A. The government of this prince was just^^and 
•wise, and he fought with success against the barba- 
rian invaders of the empire. He died after 11 
years, A. D, 375. 

Q,. 16. Who was his successor ? 

A. Gratian, the son of Valentinian succeeded in 
:the west, while Valens still ruled in the east. 

Q. 17. By whom was the empire invaded 7 

A. The Goths, being driven from their own 

country by the Huns, entered the empire, and 

plundered the country. The emperor Valens rnet 
7* 



78 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

them in tlie battle of Adrianople, in which he was 
defeated and killed, A. D. 378. 

Q,. 18. Who succeeded, to his power 1 

A. Gratian was now the only emperor, but he 
chose for his colleague, Theodosius, and gave 
him the empire of the east. 

Q,. 19. Wliat was the character of Gratian ? 

A. Gratian was deficient in energy, though well 
disposed. He was killed in a mutiny of the sol- 
diers at Lyons, A. D. 383. His brother, Valentini- 
an 2d. succeeded. 

Q. 20. Did he long retain the sceptre ? 

A. Maximus, a general commanding in Britain, 
rebelled, and the emperor fled to Theodosius, who 
restored him to the throne. He died A. D. 392, 
leaving the whole empire to Theodosius. 

Q,. 21. What was the character of this prince ? 

A. Thedosius is styled "the Great," because 
he repelled the barbarians with success, and con- 
ducted the government with wisdom. He died 
A. D. 395, after ruling the east, 18 years, and the 
whole empire 3. 

Q. 22, What change took place in religion ? 

A. During the reign of Theodosius, paganism 
was almost entirely abolished, and Christianity uni- 
versally prevailed. 

Q,. 23. To whom was thesmcession assigned ? 

A. Theodosius divided the government between 
his two sons, Arcadius and Honorius, giving the 
former the eastern, and the latter the western pro- 
vinces, which henceforward became distinct and 
aadependent empires. 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY, 79 

Q,. 24. What effect had tliis division of the 
empire 1 

A. This separation weakened the empire, and 
made it fall an easier prey to the barbarians that 
were constantly attacking it on the north. 

Q. 25. What was the character ofHonorius ? 

A. Honorius, the head of the western empire, 
was destitute of talents for government, but Stili- 
cho, his minister and general, managed affairs with 
great ability. 

Q. 26. What enemy invaded Italy ? 

A. * Alaric, the king of the Goths, entered 
Italy with great force; he was defeated by Stili" 
cho, A. D. 403. Seven years after, he returned and 
took the city of Rome, which was pillaged and 
partly burnt, after enduring extreme famine. 

Q. 27. What prevented the overthrow of the 
Empire .? 

A. Alaric soon after died, and Honorius made 
peace with Adolphus, his successor, and gave him 
his sister in marriage. He reigned at Thoulouse, 
in Gaul. 

Q. 28. How long was this emperor's reign 7 

A. Honorius died A. D, 422, after reigning 27 
years. His successor was Valentinian 3d. 

Q. 29. How was the empire diminished m 
extent ? 

A. Africa was lost to Ronle in this reign, being 

* The Imperial Court had been removed to Ravenna, on the 
Gulf of Venice, which was rendered inaccessible by extensive 
jaarslies. 



W KLEMNETS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

taken by Grenseric, king of tlie Vandals, who there 
established his kingdom. This was A. D. 439. 

Q. 30. TVJuU other enemy soon appeared ? 

A. Attila, king of the Huns, invaded the north- 
ern part of the empire with an army of 500,000 
men. 

Q. 31. How was lie resisted ? 

A. Aetius, an able general, was sent by Valen- 
tinian against the Huns, and defeated them in the 
most bloody battle ever fought, in which 160,000 
of them perished. This was at Chalons, in France, 
A.D.452. 

Q. 32. What effect kad this battle 7 

A. The ravages of the Huns were checked for 
a time ; but they soon after entered Italy, and Rome 
was deHvered only by the sudden death of Attila, 
A. D. 458. 

Q. 33. Was the emperor grateful to Aetius? 

A. Valentinian repaid his benefactor with ingra- 
titude. Conceiving suspicion against him, he stab- 
bed him with his own hand. 

Q. 34. How long was his reign ? 

A. This emperor ruled 31 years ; he was assas- 
sinated A. D. 455, by Maximus, who succeeded to 
his title. 

Q. 35. Did he long retain the sovereignty 7 

A. Maximus married Eudoxia, the widow- of 
the last emperor. When she discovered his con- 
cern in the murder of her first husband, she invi- 
ted Genseric, king of the Vandals, to revenge it. 
Maximus fled before him, and was killed by hi» 
©wn subjects for his cowardice. 



HtfiMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTOltY. SI 

Q* 36. Did Rome suffer from the Vandals 1 

A. The city was taken and plundered by Gen- 
seric, who then returned in triumph to Carthage. 

Q. 37. How much longer did the western empire 
subsist ? 

A. The empire subsisted 20 years longer, in 
great weakness and confusion, under eight empe- 
rors. At length, the last of these, Romulus Au- 
gustulus, was deposed by Odoacer, king of the 
Heruli, who established his own kingdom on the 
ruins of the empire. 

Q,. 38. What people invaded Gaul ? 

A. About A. D. 420, the Franks, a German tribe, 
entered Gaul, and laid the foundation of the king- 
dom of France. Pharamond was their first king. 

Q. 39. Who took possession of Britain ? 

A. About A. D. 450, the Saxons, also from Ger- 
many, expelled the natives, and settled in Britain, 
where they established seven small kingdoms, A 
commonly called, the Saxon heptarchy. 

Q. 40. What was the condition of Spain ? 

A. Spain was first taken by the Vandals, but 
after they passed over into Africa, it came into the 
hands of the Goths. 

Q. 41. Was the Eastern empire in ajlourishing 
condition ? 

A. The Eastern or Greek Empire, was less 
harassed by invasions than the western, and it 
continued, though in a declining state, for almost 
a thousand years after its extinction. 

Q. 42. What was the character of Arcadiusl 

A. Arcadius, who received the eastern empir® 



82 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

I 

at the separation, was a weak and dissolute prince,i 
who ruled 13 years, and was followed by his son,l 
Theodosius 2d, A. D. 408. 

Q. 43. What is said of this prince ? 

A. Theodosius 2d, was pious and well disposed,! 
but destitute of talents for government. His sister, 
Pulcheria, managed the affairs of the empire with 
great success till his death, A. D. 450. 

Q,. 44. Who was next raised to the throne ? 

A. Pulcheria was left mistress of affairs ; she [ 
gave the empire, with her hand in marriage tO| 
Marcian, a native of Thrace, who proved worthy of i 
her choice, and reigned 7 years. j 

Q,. 45. Who was the next emperor 1 \ 

A. To Marcian succeeded Leo, also aThracian, I 
who governed in peace 17 years, till A. D. 474, 
when his son-in-law, Zeno, succeeded, who held 
the empire at the close of this period. i 

Q,. 46. What was the state of religion at this 
time ? 

A. Christianity had now become the religion of 
the empire, but the church was much troubled by | 
corruption, and by disputes and heresies. 

Q,. 47. What was the state of literature ? 

A. The publick taste in literature was corrupted, 
and darkness had begun to overspread the most 
enlightened portions of the world. 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENt HISTORY. 83' 



TWELFTH PERIOD. 

Q. 1. Jfhat is the extent of this period ? 

A. The 12th period reaches from the overthrow 
of the western empire, 476, to the flight of Ma- 
homet, A. D. 622, including 146 years. 

Q,. 2. By what name are these ages often calledl 

A. For about 1000 years after this epoch, igno-- 
rance and darkness prevailed throughout the world, 
and these are often called the dark ages, 

Q. 3. What power first deserves notice at i%is 
time 1 

A. The eastern or Greek empire, first deserves 
attention, as the most civilized and powerful go- 
vernment. 

Q. 4. Who first swayed the sceptre at Con- 
stantinople f 

A. Zeno,who had been two years on the throne 
at the beginning of this period, retained it for about 
fifteen years longer. While suffering with a fit of 
epilepsy, he was buried alive. 

Q,. 5. Who was the successor of Zeno ? 

A, Anastasius succeeded to the empire; though 
old at his accession, he ruled 27 years, and died at 
the age of 80, A. D. 518. 

Q.. 6. Who was the third emperor of tJiis time ? 

Ai Justin, a Thracian, rose from obscurity to 
supreme power, and reigned 9 years with distin- 
guished prudence. 

Q,. 7. In what tear was Justin ifwolved T 



64 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

Jl. In tills reign commenced a war with Persia, 
in whlcli Belisarius had the command of the inrpe- 
rlal troops. 

Q. 8. Whom did Justin make Ms successor ? 

Jl. Justin gave the succession to Justinian^, his 
nephew, whose reign is distinguished for ^iS9 
length, as well as for the glory and success that 
attended his arms. This reign was 38 years. 

Q,. 9. What was the cause of his success in 
tear ? 

A. Justinian owed his victories not to his own 
talents, but to those of his generals, Belisarius and 
Narses. 

Q. 10. TVJiat were the exploits of Belisarius t 

A. This famous general gained three great victo- 
ries over the Persians ; afterward he subdued the 
Vandal kingdom in Africa, and for a time restored 
that province to the empire. 

Q. 11. With whom did he wage war in Italy t 

A. Belisarius also entered Italy and fought with 
the Goths, who had established their kingdom in 
that country. When he had nearly expelled them 
he was recalled by the jealous emperor. 

Q,. 12. Wlw succeeded to the command of the 
army 7 

A. Narses w^as appointed instead of Belisarius, 
to conduct the Grothick war ; he finished the con- 
quest of the Goths, and governed Italy, under the 
title of exarch, subject to the eastern emperor. 

Q. 13. Who was the ffth emperor of this pe- 
riod 1 

A. Justinian was also succeeded by a nephew. 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 85 

Justin, 2d, A. D. 565. His mind became deran- 
ged by the troubles that came upon the country ; 
after 9 years, his son-in-law, Tiberius, was associa- 
ted with him in power. After this he lived 4 
years, and died A. D. 578. 

Q,. 14. What misfortunes hefell the empire 1 
A. Italy was again lost to the empire, being ta- 
ken by the Lombards, and the Persians invaded 
its eastern provinces. 

Q. 15. What occurred at the death of Justin 7 
A. Tiberius, after Justin's death, became the 
only sovereign, and ruled with prudence 4 years. 
In war he was successful against the Persians. 

Q. 16. To whom did Tiberius leave the sueces- 
sion ? 

A. Maurice, son-in-law of the last emperor, was 
made heir of the throne, on which he sat for 20 
years, and governed with vigour and prudence. 
Q: 17. How did this emperor come to his end 7 
A. In A. D. 602, the army revolted and elevated 
Phocas to the empire. By this usurper, Maurice 
and all his family were cruelly put to death. 
Q. 18. What is said of the reign of Phocas 1 
A. Phocas ruled 8 years, in the midst of re- 
volts and invasions ; he was cruel to his people, 
who forsook him, and Heraclius, governor of Afri- 
ca, assumed the royalty, A. D. 610. 

Q,. 19. What is related of this prince 7 
A. Heraclius reigned till after the close of this 
period. At his accession, the empire was ravaged 
by the Avars on the north, and the Persians oi\ 
the east, and general consternation prevailed. 

a 



Si> ELEMENTS ,#F ANCIENT HISTORY. 

Q,. 20. How was the Persian war conducted f 

A. Heraclius invaded the Persian dominions^ 
defeated tliem in several bloody battles, and forced 
them to conclude a peace. 

Q. 21. What famous nation is now first men" 
tioned in history 7 

A. The Turks, a tribe of Tartars, assisted the 
emperor in this war, with an army of 40,000 men. 

Q. 22. What is known of Persia at this time ? 

A. Persia, during- much of this period, was en- 
gaged in war with the eastern empire. It was go- 
verned by seven kings in succession, of whom the 
most famous was Chosroes the Oreat. 

Q. 23. What other nations deserve a separate 
notice ? 

A. Italy, Britain, Gaul or France, and Spain, 
formerly provinces of the western empire, must 
now be noticed as independent states. 

Q. 24. What kingdom was founded in Italy ? 

A. Odoacer, king of the Heruli, when he de- 
posed the western emperor, founded the kingdom 
of Italy, which subsisted only 19 years. 

Q,. 25. How was it overthrown ? 

A. Italy was now invaded by Theodoric, king 
of the Ostrogoths, that is Eastern Goths. He con- 
quered the Heruli, and set up the Gothick king" 
dom of Italy, A. D. 493. 

Q. 26. By ivhom were the Goths dispossessed ? 

A. After Theodoric, seven kings reigned in Ita- 
ly, when Belisarius and Narses, generals of the 
eastern empire, after several years of war, finally 
.destroyed their power. 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 87 

Q,. 27. Who loere ilic next invaders of Italy ? 

A. In A. D. 568, Alboin, king of the Lombards, 
invaded this unhappy country, and set up a king- 
dom, which lasted 200 years. 

Q. 28. What was the condition of Britain 1 

A, The Saxons and other tribes of Germans, 
held possession of the southern part of the island 
of Britain, during the whole of this period. 

Q,. 29. What name was now given to this 
country 1 

A. The country occupied by the Saxons was 
called England, from the Angles, who were one 
of their tribes. 

Q. 30. Did they enjoy tranquillity ? 

A. The princes of the heptarchy were often en- 
gaged in war among themselves, and against the 
native Britons. 

Q,. 31. What were their religion and manners ? 

^. At the invasion, the Saxons were pagans 
and barbarians, but they gradually became con- 
verts to Christianity, and more humane and civil- 
ized. 

Q. 32. From whom does France derive its 
name ? 

A. The Franks, a warlike tribe of Germans, es- 
tablished the kingdom of France, to which they 
gave name. 

Q. 33. W?io is considered the founder of the 
kingdom ? 

A. Clovis, A. D. 481, is generally called the 
founder of the monarchy of the Franks, because 



ISS ELEMENTS OP AXCIENT IIISTORT. 

before him, tliey possessed only a small district, 
but he took possession of almost all the country. 

Q,. 34. How long did the family of Clovis 
reign ? 

A. The family of Clovis, commonly called the 
Merovingian race, were kings of France till after 
the close of this period. 

Q. 35. What was their religion ? 

A. Clovis, at first a pagan, was converted to 
Christianity, by the influence of Clotilda, his wife. 
His subjects also came over to the true faith. 

Q. 36. What was the condition qf Spain 1 

A, At the beginning of this period, Spain was 
mostly held by the Suevi, a barbarous nation from 
the north. 

Q. 37. By whom were they vanquished ? 

A. In A. D. 531, Spain was entered by the Vi- 
sigoths, or western Goths; after 50 years they got 
possession of the country, which they retained till 
the end of this period. 

Q,. 38. What signalized the close of this period? 

A. The epoch that closes this period is the ori- 
gin of a new religion and empire among the Sa- 
racens or Arabs. 

Q,. 39. Fro7n whom are the Arahs descended? 

A. The Arabs are descendants of Ishmael, the 
son of Abraham ,• they had always lived a pastoral 
life, and had never been subdued by any foreign 
power, being defended by their deserts, inaccessi- 
ble to armies. 

Q. 40. Whatreligion did they profess ? 

A, The Arabs were mostly idolaters, though 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. S9 

they practised some rites similar to those of the 
Jews, and some of them were converts to Chris- 
tianity. 

Q. 41. Who was the founder of the new re- 
ligion ? 

A. Mahomet, or Mohammed, born at Mecca, 
A. D. 569, became the founder of an empire which 
governed a great part of the known world, and 
of a religion which is still professed by many mil- 
lions of men. 

Q,. 42. What means did he at first employ f 

A. In A. D. 609, when Mahomet was 40 years 
old, he pretended that he was sent by God, as a 
prophet, superior to Moses, or Christ, commissioned 
to establish a religion that should supersede the 
christian and all others, 

Q. 43. Was the imposture well received at first 1 

A. For many years, Mahomet gained few disci- 
ples. So much was he opposed in his native place, 
that he was compelled to flee for his life *o Me- 
dina, A. D. 622. 

Q. 44. Why is this event important ? 

A. This flight of Mahomet is considered by 
Mahometans as the epoch of the foundation of their 
religion, from it therefore they reckon time, as we 
do from the birth of Christ. 



8* 



•90 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 



THIRTEENTH PERIOD. 

Q,. 1. When does the last period of ancient "his- 
tory begin and end? 

A. The 13th period begins at the flight of Ma- 
homet, A. D. 622, and ends A. D. 800, with the co- 
ronation of Charlemagne ; a duration of 178 years. 

Q. 2. What was the most formidable power of 
this period 1 

A. The new empire of the Saracens became the 
most extensive government, and first deserves at- 
tention. 

Q,. 3. How was Mahomet received at Medina ? 

A. Mahorget was well received at Medina ; he 
formed his adherents into a military band, with 
which he returned and took Mecca. 

Q. 4. By what means was his religion propa- 
gated'? 

A. This imposture was extended by force of 
arms ; idolaters, if conquered, were compelled to 
embrace it, or be put to death ; christians migiit 
live on condition of paying tribute. 

Q,. 5. How did he inspire his followers with 
courage 1 

A. Mahomet promised those of his disciples 
that should fall in battle, the enjoyment of a sen- 
sual paradise, and made them bold by inculcating 
the doctrine of fatality. 

Q. 6. Did his power spread rapidly ? 

A. In a few years, all Arabia embraced the 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORYi. 9| 

doctrines of Mahomet; he then invaded Syria, and 
died A D. 632, in the midst of his victorious ca- 
reer. 

Q. 7. JVhai are the successors of Mahomet 
called ? 

A. Those who succeeded Mahomet as heads of 
his empire and religion, are called caliphs, that is 
successors. 

Q. 8. Who was the first caliph ? 

A. Abubeker, the father of one of the prophet's 
wives, was his first successor : he engaged in war 
with the eastern empire. He reigned 2 years, 
and was succeeded by Omar. 

Q,. 9. What conquests did Omar make ? 

A. This caliph subdued Syria^ Persia, Egypt, 
and all the north of Africa. He reigned 12 years, 
till A. D. 645. 

Q. 10. What library did he destroy ? 

A. By order of Omar, the great library of Alex- 
andria was burnt. It consisted at one period of 
700,000 volumes. 

Q. 11. Who was the next caliph 7 

A, Othman was the next caliph; he carried his 
victorious arms into Tartary. After a short reign 
he was succeeded by Ali, son-in-law of Mahomet. 

Q. 12. What is related of'^^. xeign of Mi 1 

A. This caliph removed 0W^^. of government 
from Mecca to Cuja, on the ^fe^STates. He ruled 
5 years. 

Q,. 13. Who next ascended the throne 1 

A, After Ali's death, the family of Omar were 



.92 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

restored to tlie caliphate. Of this family, 19 ca» 
liphs reigned in succession, till about A. D. 750. 

Q,. 14. What further conquests did they make ? 

A. In A. D. 712, the Saracens invaded Spain, 
of which they took possession ; 20 years after 
,they entered France, but were soon repulsed. 

Q,. 15. How were their dominions divided ? 

A.. About A. D. 755, the Saracen dominions 
were divided into 3 distinct caliphates, or king 
doms ; the first, of which Bagdad was capital, 
comprised their Asiatickpossessions ; the second 
included Egypt and the states of Barbary, and the 
third, Spain. 

Q,. 16, JVhat is Tinovm of their manners and 
learning 1 

A. About this time the Saracens acquired a taste 
for learning, and for a long period were the most 
civilized and enlightened people in the world. 

Q. 17. What brandies of literature did they 
study 1 

A. The Saracens studied Medicine, Geometry, 
and Astronomy. The science of Algebra was in- 
vented or improved by them; they also wrote po- 
etry and fictitious tales. The " Arabian Nights" 
IS one of the compositions of this period. 

Q. 18. Who was the last caliph of this time ? 

A. At the close of this period, the caliph of 
Bagdad was Haroun, «urnamed Al Ii,aschid,that is, 
the just ; he was a famous patron of learning. 

Q. 19. What was the condition of the eastern 
empire 1 

A. The Greek empire was reduced to compa» 



ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 0S 

rative weakness by the victories of tlie Saracens, 
who took from it a great part of its territory. 

^Q, 20. Did the Saracens attempt to'^'tahe the 
capital 2 » 

A, Twice the Saracens laid siege to Constanti- 
nople, viz., aboat A. D. 670 and 716. The last 
time, their fleet of 1800 ships was destroyed by a 
peculiar substance called Greek fire. 

Q. 21. By who7n was the empire governed! 

A. After Heraclius, several emperors succes- 
sively filled the throne ; they were weak and ty- 
rannical princes. 

Q,. 22. What internal disturhances arose 1 

A. The peace of the empire was much disturb- 
ed by theological controversies. Leo, who reigned 
A. D. 723, was called the Iconoclast, that is, image 
breaker, because he destroyed the images of Christ 
and the saints, and opposed the worship of them.. 

Q. 23. What female of the royal family he- 
came notorious ? 

A. Irene, the wife of Leo 4th, and mother of 
Constantino 5th, murdered her own son. She was 
soon after deposed and banished. 

Q. 24. What was the state of Italy ? 

A. The Lombard kingdom of Italy continued 
till A.D. 774, under 17 successive kings, the last 
of whom was Didier. 

Q. 25. How did the kingdom come to its end ? 

A. The Lombard king became involved in a 
dispute with the Pope, or Bishop of Rome, who 
solicited the aid of Charlemagne, king of France. 

Q. 26. What was the consequence ? 



94 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. ♦ 

A. Charlemagne conquered and deposed tlie 
liombard king, and added Italy to his own domi- 
nions. In- 

Q,. 27. In wliat condition was Spain 1 

Ji. The kingdom of the Visigoths continued in 
Spain till A. D. 712. Roderick was their last 
king. 

Q. 28. "By what means was it destroyed, 1 

A. Count Julian, whose daughter Roderick 
had dishonoured, invited the Moors, or Saracens 
of Africa, into Spain. 

Q. 29. Did they accept the proposal? 

A. The Saracens, commanded by Tarik, inva- 
ded and took all the country, except a small region' 
in the north. Spain adopted the religion of the 
conquerors. 

Q. 30. What occurred on the division of the Sa- 
racen power ? 

A. About A.D. 756, Abdalrahman erected 
Spain into an independent kingdom, of which the 
capital was Cordova. At the close of this period 
this kingdom was flourishing both in power and 
learning. 

Q,. 31. In what condition was England? 

A. The seven Saxon kingdoms subsisted till s 
little after the close of this period, disturbed by 
their own disputes, and the depredations of the 
Danes and Normans. 

Q. 32. What was the state of France ? 

A. The family of Clo vis, or Merovingian race, 
were sovereigns of France till A. D. 751 ; but. 



ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 95^ 

for tlie last hundred years, tliey enjoyed only the 
title of kings, without the power. 

Q,. 33. Who managed ilie affairs of tJie king- 
dom ? 

A. The supreme power was in the hands of offi- 
cers, styled mayors of the palace ; their office was 
hereditary. 

Q. 34. Who held this office in France ? 

A Th e first mayors of the palace that became 
famous, were Pepin d'Heristal, and his son, 
Charles M artel. 

Q. 35. What formidahlc power invaded France^ 

A. In A. D. 732, while Charles Martel was 
mayor of the palace, the Saracens invaded France 
from Spain, with great force. 

Q,. 36. How were they opposed 1 

A. The Saracens met a signal defeat fromCharles, 
in the battle of Poictiers, and were not long" 
after driven out of France. 

Q,. 37. To whom did Charles leave his power ? 

A. Charles Martel was succeeded by his two 
sons, Pepin and Carloman. The latter resigned 
his office and became a monk. 

Q. 38. What title did Pepin assume? 

A. Pepin deposed Childeric 3d, the last of the 
Merovingian race, and was proclaimed king of 
France, A. D. 751. 

Q. 39. By what name is this family known ? 

•5. This new race of kings is called the Carlo- 
vingian, from Charles Martel. 

Q,. 40. With whom was Pepin engaged in war ? 

A. Pepin made war upon the Lombards, in Ita- 



96 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 

ly, and defeated thetn. He gave the district of 
Ravemia to the pope, who thus became a tempo- 
ral prince. 

Q,. 41. Who S2icceeded to this king 1 

A. Upon the death of Pepin, A. D. 768, his two 
sons, Charles and Carloman, succeeded, but Car- 
loman died two years after, and left the whole 
kingdom to Charles. 

Q,. 42. By what name is this monarch called ? 

A. On account of his talents and power, this 
king was called Charlemagne, that is, Charles tho 
great, by which name he is generally known. 

Q. 43. W7iat conquests did he make 1 

A. Charlemagne, besides France, became mas- 
ter of Germany, Italy, and a part of Spain. 

Q. 44. How did he rule his extensive dominions ? 

A. Through a long reign, Charlemagne con- 
ducted with great wisdom and justice, and though 
so illiterate that he could scarce write his own 
name, he was a great patron of learning. 

Q. 45. With what epoch does this period end? 

A. In the year 800, Charlemagne was crowned 
•by the pope, and the title of Roman Emperor of 
the west restored in his person. This memorable 
event is generally considered as the boundary of 
Ancient and Modern History. 



97 



BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL TABLK 

OF THE 

Trtncipal Events of Ancient History, 





FIRST PERIOD, 1656 yean 


}. 


Years of 




Years 


the World 




B.C. 




The Creation, First Epoch 


4004 


130 


Birth of Seth 


3874 


235 


Birth of Enos , , 


3769 


325 


Birth of Cain an , 


3679 


395 


Birth of Mahaleel , 


3609 


460 


Birth of Jared , , 


3544 


622 


Birth of Enoch , , 


3382 


687 


Birth of Methuselah , 


3317 


874 


Birth of Lamech 


3130 


987 


Translation of Enoch 


3017 


1056 


Birth of Noah 


2948 


1536 


Prediction of the Deluge . 


2468 


1656 


The Deluge, Second Epoch 
SECOND PERIOD; 42^ years 


2348 

3. 


1658 


Birth of Arphaxad . 


2346 


1693 


Birth of Salah 


2311 


1723 


Birth of Eber 


2281 


1757 


Birth of Peleg 


2247 


1757 


Confusion of Tongueis at Babel . 


2247 


1787 


Birth of Reu 


2217 


1787 


Nineveh founded 


2217 



m 


CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 




Years of 




Years 


the World. 




B.C. 


1787 


Kingdom of Egypt founded , 


2217 


1819 


Birth of Serug 


2185 


1849 


Birth of Nahor 


2155 


1878 


Birth of Terah 


2126 


1915 


Sicyon founded 


2089 


2008 


Abraham born 


1996 


2083, 


Call of Abraham, Third Epoch 1921 




THIRD PERIOD, 430 years. 




2108 


Isaac botn .... 


1896 


2168 


Jacob and Esau born . 


1836 


2259 


Joseph born . . , . 


1745 


2275 


Joseph sold as a slave 


1729 


2288 


Joseph made governor of Egypt , 


1716 


2298 


Jacob goes down to Egypt . 


1706 


2315 


Death of Jacob 


1689 


2369 


Death of Joseph 


1635 


2433 


Birth of Moses 


1571 


2448 


Athens founded by Ce crops 


1556 


2473 


Moses flees into Midian 


1531 


2511 


Thebes founded by Cadmus 


1493 


2513 


Departure from Egypt, Foui 


rth 




Epoch 


1491 




FOURTH PERIOD, 487 year 


3. 


2514 


Sparta founded by Lelex . 


1490 


2553 


Death of Moses 


1451 


2554 


Conquest of Canaan . 


1450 


2560 


Division among the tribes . 


1444 


2567 


Death of Joshua 


1437 


2600 


Minos King of Crete . 


1404 


2628 


Corinth founded by Sisyphus 


1376 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



Years of 




Years 


the World 


, 


B.C, 


2692 


Marriage of Ruth with Boaz 


1312 


2740 


The Argonautick Expedition 


1264 


2767 


Death of Gideon . , 


1237 


2820 


Capture of Troy 


1184 


2822 


Death of Jephthah . , 


11,82 


2829 


Arrival of JEneas in Italy . 


1175 


2847 


Eli, High Priest 


1157 


2884 


Death of Samson 


1120 


■2887 


Samuel, Prophet and Judge 


1117 


2909 


Saul, King of Israel . 


1095 


2934 


Athens became a Republick 


1070 


2949 


David made King of Judah 


1055 


2989 


Solomon made King 


1015 


•3000 


The Building of the Temple, 




Fifth Epoch 


1004 




FIFTH PERIOD, 252 years. 




3029 


Death of Solomon 


O'ys 


3029 


Revolt of the 10 Tribes . 


975 


.3033 


Jerusalem taken by Sheshak, or 


Se- 




sostris 


971 


3080 


Samaria founded 


924 


3104 


Homeric poems composed . 


900 


3120 


Laws of Sparta, by Lycurgus 


884 


3135 


Carthage founded by Dido . 


869 


3209 


Kingdom of Macedon founded 


795 


3^33 


Israel invaded by Pul, King of As- 




syria .... 


771 


3252 


Rome founded by Romulus, 






Sixth Epoch 


752 



100 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



SIXTH PERIOD, 214 years. 



Years 
B.C. 



First Messenian "War begins . . 743 

The ten tribes taken captive by Shalmaneser 721 

Sennacherib's army destroyed . • 715 

Death of Romulus . . . • 715 

Second Messenian War begins . . 685 

Babylon and Assyria united . . . 681 

Captivity of Manasseh, King of Judah . 677 

Death of Numa . . . . . 672 

Josiah, King of Judah .... 641 

Death of Tullus Hostilius ... 640 

Death of Ancus Martius . . . 616 

Josiah slain by Pharaoh-Necho . . 610 

Captivity of the Jews by Nebuchadnezzar 600 

Solon gives laws to Athens . . . 594 

Jerusalem destroyed .... 588 

Death of Tarquin 1st, ... 578 

Pisistratus becomes Tyrant of Athens . 560 

Poems of Homer collected . . . 560 
Capture of Baeitlon by Cyrus, Seventh 

Epoch . .... 538 

SEVENTH PERIOD, 207 years. 

Decree for rebuilding the temple . . 536 

Death of Servius Tullius . . . 534 

Expulsion of Tarquin 2d . . . 509 

Battle of Marathon .... 490 

Coriolanus banished .... 485 

Battlesof Thermopylae and Salamis . 480 

Rome becomes a democracy . . . 471 

The Old Testament collected by Ezra . 458 

Decemvirs appointed at Rome . . . 451 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 101 



Jerusalem rebuilt by Nehemiah 

Peloponnesian war begins 

The Old Testament history ends . 

Athenians defeated by the Spartans 

Retreat of the 10,000 under Xenophon 

Home taken by the Gauls 

Battle of Leuetra; Elevation of Thebes 

First Plebeianconsul at Rome 

Battle of Mantinea 

War with the Samnites begins 

Battle of Cheronea, Philip victorious 

Invasion of Persia, Battle of Granicus 

Battle or Arbela, Eighth Epoch 

EIGHTH PERIOD, 185 years. 



Yeara 
B.C.j 

445 
430 
430 
405 
403 
390 
371 
367 
363 
343 
338 
334 
530 



Death of Alexander . . • . S24 

Division of Alexander's dominions . . 312 

The Scriptures translated into Greek . 284 

Invasion of Italy by Pyrrhus . . . 280 

First Punick War begun . . . 264 

Duilius conquers the Carthaginians at sea 260 

Kingdom of Parthia founded . . 256 

Regulus defeated by the Carthaginians . 255 

Temple of Janus shut . • . 235 

Invasion of Italy by Hannibal, 2d Punick War 218 

The Romans defeated at Cannas . . 216 

Syracuse taken by the Romans, . . 212 

Scipio defeats Hannibal at Zama , » 202 

Macedonians defeated by the Romans . 197 

Syrians defeated by the Romans . . 192 
Jerusalem plundered by Antiochus, king of 

Syria . . . . . . 170 

Macedonia made a Roman Province , 167 



102 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 

Years 
B.C. 

The Syrians expelled from Judea . . 166 

Third Punick War begun . - . 149 

Greece subdued by the Romans . . 146 

Destruction of Carthage, Ninth Epoch 146 

NINTH PERIOD, 146 years. 

Siege of Numantia ; Spain made a Province 134 

Death of Tiberius Gracchus . . . 133 

Kingdom of Pontus founded . . . 123 

Jugurtha subdued by Marius ... 106 

Social war in Italy .... 91 

War with Mithridates, king of Pontus , 89 

Civil war between Marius and Sylla . 88 

Servile war in Italy . , . . 73 

Syria made a Roman Province ? . 64 

Mithridates subdued by Pompey . . 63 

Conspiracy of Cataline quelled by Cicero 63 
First Triumvirate of Pompey, Ceesar and 

Crassus ...... 60 

Invasion of Britain by Csesar ... 25 

Gaul subdued by Caesar ... 51 

Civil war; battle ofPharsalia . . 48 

Csesar assassinated by Brutus and Cassius 44 
Second Triumvirate, Octavius, Antony, and 

Lepidus ...... 43 

Battle of Philippi .... 42 

Herod made king of Judea ... 37 

Battle of Actium ; Roman Empire begins 31 
Egypt made a Province of Rome ; death of 

Cleopatra 30 

Temple of Janus again shut ... 10 

True date of the birth of Christ . . 4 
Birth of Christ, common reckoning, 

Tenth Epoch ..... 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 103 



TENTH PERIOD, 306 years. 

A.D. 

Death of Augustus ; Tiberius succeeds . 14 

John the Baptist beheaded . ... 32 

Crucifixion of the Saviour ... 33 

Tiberius dies, succeeded by Caius CaUgula 37 
Death of CaUgula ; Claudius emperor . 41 

Invasion of Britain .... 43 

Claudius killed ; Nero made Emperor . 54 

First persecution of the Christians . 64 

Nero's death. Short reign of Galba . 68 

Short reigns of Otho and Vitellius . 69 

Vespasian succeeds ; Jerusalem destroyed 70 
Vespasian dies ; Titus succeeds . 79 

Domitian succeeds his brother Titus . 81 

Second persecution. The book of Revelation 

written .... 95 

Domitian's death ; Nerva made Emperor 96 

Nerva dies ; Trajan follows . , 98 

Third persecution . . . 107 

Trajan dies ; succeeded by Adrian . 118 

Fourth persecution ..." 

Adrian's death ; Antoninus Pius succeeds 138 
Pius dies ; followed by Marcus Aurelius An- 
toninus . . , , 161 
Aurelius dies ; Commodus Emperor . 180 
Death of Commodus ; short reigns of Pertinax 
and Didius Julianas ; Septimius Severus suc- 
ceeds ..... 193 
Fifth persecution of Christians . . 202 
Severus dies ; succeeded by Caracalla and 

Geta . . . . .211 

Death of Caracalla ; Macrinua Emperor . 217 
Maximus succeeded by Heliogabalus . 218 
Heliogabalus dies; Alexander Sevems suc- 
ceeds .... 222 



104 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



Kingdom of Persia foiinded by Artaxarea 223 

Severus murdered ; Maximinus Emperor 235 

Maximinus slain ; Gordian chosen Emperor 238 

Philip murders and succeeds Gordian . 244 

Philip dies ; Decius succeeds . . 249 

Seventh persecution . . . 250 

Gallus succeeds on the death of Decius . 251 

Valerian emperor. Death of Gallus. . 254 

Eighth persecution . • . 257 
Gallienus succeeds. Valerian killed by the 

Persians . . . . 261 

Claudius 2d succeeds Gallienus , , 268 

Claudius dies. Aurelian chosen . , 270 

Ninth persecution . , . 272 

Zenobia taken prisoner , . 273 

Tacitus succeeds Aurelian ,. . 275 

Florian Emperor on the death of Tacitus 276 

Probus succeeds Florian . . 277 
Probus dies. Short reign of Carus, and his 

sons, Carinus and Numerian . , 282 

Diocletian succeeds Carinus . . 284 

Maximian associated with Diocletian . 286 

Tenth and last persecution of Christians . 302 

Diocletian and Maximian resign . . 304 

Constantius and Galerius succeed . 304 
Accession of Constantine, Eleventh 

Epoch . . . .306 



ELEVENTH PERIOD, 170 years. 

Christianity the religion of the empire , 325 

Constantinople founded . . . 330 

Constantine dies ; Constantius succeeds , 337 

Julian the apostate succeeds Constantius . 361 

Attempt to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem 363 



CHUONOIiOGICAL TAELK. 105 

A.D, 

Julian killed in battle ; Jovian succeeds . 363 
Talentinian and Valens succeed Jovian . 364 
Valentinian dies; succeeded by Gratian 375 

Valens defeated and killed by the Goths . 378- 
Theodosius made emperor of the East . 379 
Gratian dies. Valentinian 2d, emperor of the 

West . . . . .383 

Valentinian 2d dies ; Theodosius sole Em- 
peror .... 392 
Honorius emperor of the West ; Arcadius of 

the East . . . .395 

Alaric, king of the Goths, invades Italy . 403 
Spain taken by the Suevi . . 406 

Thedosius 2d, Emperor of the East . 408 

Rome taken by Alaric. Britain forsaken 410 

Valentinian 3d, emperor of the West . 424 
Vandal kingdom founded in Africa by Genserie 42S^ 
Aitila, king of the Huns, invades the Eastern 

empire .... 435 

The Huns ravage the Western empire . 445 
Marcian, emperor of the East . . 450 

The Huns defeated in the battle of Chalons 451 
The Saxons begin the conquest of Britain 455 

Maximus and Avitus emperors of the West, 455 
Home taken by Genserie . . 455 

Leo, emperor of the East; Majorian of the 

west . . , 457 

Severus, emperor of the West ^ 461 

Athemius, emperor of the West ^ 467 

Olybrius do. . . 472 

Glycerius do. . , 473 

Nepos do. Zeno of the east 474 

Augustulus do. . . 475 

Subversion of the Western Empire by 
Odoacer, Twelfth Epoch . 476- 



106 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 

TWELFTH PEUIOD, 146 years. 

A. D. 
I French monarchy founded by Clovis . 481 
Conquest of Britain completed by the Saxons 485 
Anastasius, emperor of the East . 491 

Italy conquered by Theodoric, the Goth 493 

Time begun to be computed from the Birth of 

Christ . . . .516 

Justin 1st, emperor of the East . 518 

Justinian succeeds Justin as emperor . 527 
Vandal kingdom of Africa, taken by Belisarius 534 
Narses re-conquers Italy . . , 552 

Justin 2d, emperor of the East . . 565 

Alboin, king of the Lombards, conquers Italy 568 
Tiberius 2d, emperor of the East . 578 

Latin language ceases to be spoken . 5S0 

Maurice, emperor of the East . . 582 

Kingdom of the Visigoths founded in Spain 585 
Christianity planted in England by Augustine 597 
Phocas puts Maurice to death and succeeds 

him . . . 602 

Heraclius, emperor of the East . . 610 

Great victory over the Persians . . 616 

Flight of Mahomet, Thirteenth Epoch 622 

THIRTEENTH PERIOD, 178 years. 

Death of Mahomet . . '632 

Alexandria taken ; its library burnt . 640 

Constantine 3d, and Heracleonas, emperors of 

the East .... 641 

Constans 2d, emperor . . . 642 

Ali, Caliph of the Saracens . . 655 

Constantine 4th, Pogonatus, emperor . 668 
Constantinople besieged by the Saracens . 672 
Justinian 2d, emperor . „ . 685 



CHlRO^OLOGiCAL TABLE. 107 

A.D. 

JLeontius, emperor . . 695 

Justinian restored . . . 698 

Apsimarus Tiberius, emperor . . 705 

Anastatius 2d, emperor . . , 705 

Philippicus, emperor. . . • 711 

Spain invaded by the Saracens . . 712 

Anastasius 2d, emperor, • . 713 

Theodosius 3d, emperor . . 714 

Leo 3d, the Isaurian, emperor . . 716 

Controversy concerning image worship . 727 

Battle of Poictiers . . . 732 

Constantino 5th, ettiperor . . 741 

Pepin proclaimed Icing of France . 751 
Kingdom of the Moors founded at Cordova, 

in Spain . . . • 755 
'Tempoiral power of the Pope begins . 755 
Bagdad founded by the caliph, Almansor 762 
Charlemagne, king of France - . 768 
Charlemagne conquers Italy , . 774 
Leo 4th, the Iconoclast, emperor . 775 
Constantino 6th, Porphyrogenitus . 781 
£taroun Al Raschid, caliph of Bagdad . 786 
Irene, empress, by the murder of her son 788 
Charlemagne crowned emperor, Four- 
teenth Epoch . , . 80O 



108 
GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES, 

IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. 



A. 

ACTIUM, a town of Epirus, famous for the naval vietory 
which Augustus gained over Antony, B.C. 31. 

AFRIC A,_ one of the grand divisions of the ancient world ; the 
name is often restricted to the northera parts. 

ALEXANDRIA, a large and opulent city of Egypt, founded 
by Alexander the Great, B. C. 332, the capital of the king- 
dom of the Ptolemies. 

ALPS high mountains, chiefly situated between Italy and 
Gaul. 

ASIA, the largest division of the eastern continent; Asia Mi- 
nor, or simply Asia, is a name applied to the peninsula si- 
tuated between the Euxine and Mediterranean seas. 

ASSYRIA, an extensive county in the south-west of Asia, the 
seat of the first Universal Empire. 

ATHENS, the most celebrated city and republick of Greece, 
founded by Cecrops 1556 B.C. It was particularly noted 
for literature and the elegant arts. 

B. 

BABYLON, a large and splendid city, one of the capitals of 
the Assyrian Empire, situated on the Euphrates, by means 
of which it was taken by Cyrus. 

BAGDAD, the capital of the Saracen Empire, built by the ca- 
liph Almansor,and distinguished for wealth and learning. 

BETHLEHEM, a small town of Judea, celebrated as the 
birth-place of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

BITHYNIA, a province of Asia Minor, bordering on the Black 
sea and the sea of Marmora. 

BOSPHORUS, there are two straits called by this name ; the 
Thracian Bosphorus, which unites the sea of Marmora with 
the Euxine, and the Cimmerian connecting the Euxine with 
the sea of Azoph. 

BRITAIN, a large island in the Atlantlck; the southern part 
since called England, was first inhabited by the Celts, it 
was then made a Roman Province ; when abandoned by 
the Romans it was occupied by the Saxons. 



1G9 GEOGRAPHICAL TABLE. 

C. 

CANAAN, a region on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean, 
so called from Canaan, the grand-son of Ham. It was 
promised to Abraham for his posterity, and accordingly ta- 
ken by Joshua and divided among the Israelites. 

CAPPADOCIA, a country of Asia Minor, on the Euxine sea. 

CARTHAGE, a commercial and wealthy city of the north of 
Africa, founded by Dido 869 B.C. It was the rival of 
Rome till its destruction by Scipio, 146 B. C. It was af- 
terwards rebuilt, and became tlie capital of* the Gothick 
kingdom of Africa. 

CHALDEA, a region situated between the rivers Euphrates 
and Tigris, of which the capital was Babylon. 

CHiERONEA, a city of Boeotia, celebrated for the victory of 
Philip of Macedon over the combined forces of the Atheni- 
ans and Thebans, 338 B. C. 

COLCHIS, a country of Asia, on the coast of the Euxine, fa- 
mous for the Argonautick expedition. It is now called 
Mingrelia. 

CONSTANTINOPLE, formerly Byzantium, a city on the 
Thracian Bosphorous, enlarged by Constantine, from whom, 
it received its present name. 

CORDOVA, called Corduba in more ancient times, a large 
city of Spain, the capital of the Moorish Kingdom. 

CTESIPHON, the capital of Parthia, situated on the eastern 
bank of the Tigris. 

CUJA, a town on the Euphrates, the capital of the Saracen 
empire before the foundation of Bagdad. 

D- 

DACIA, a large country of Europe, on the west of the Black 
sea, conquered by Trajan. It included Wallachia, Molda- 
via, Transylvania, and apart of Hungary. 

DAMASCUS, one of the most ancient cities of the world, the 
capital of ancient Syria. It is now a considerable town, the 
capital of a Turkish Pachalick, and called by the Arabs, 
El Sham. 

E. 

EDEN, the garden in which our first parents lived, when in a 
state of innocence. 

EGYPT, an extensive country in the north-east of Africa, call- 
ed by the Hebrews, Mizraim, from a sen of Ham, who is 
supposed to be the same as Menes,it3 first king. 



ffEOGRAPHICAL TABLE. 110 

ENGLAND, the southern part of the island of Britain, so callr 

ed from the Angles, or Engles, one of the German tribes 

that took possession of it. 
EPIRUS, a province or kingdom in Greece, situated on the 

eastern shore of the Adriatick, included in the modern 

Albania. 
EUPHRATES, a large river of Asia, now called Frat,by the 

inhabitants of its banks. It rises in Annenia, and flows a 

southerly course into the Persian Gulf. 
EUXINE, a large inland sea situated between Asia and Eut 

rope, usually called the Black Sea. 

F. 
FRANCE, a large country of modem Europe, formerly Gaul. 
It was settled and nanied by the Franks from Germany. 

G. 

GANGES, a large river of India, flowing from the Himmaleh 
mountains into the Bay of Bengal. It was imperfectly 
known by the ancients. 

GAUL, a large country of ancient Europe, nearly correspond- 
ing to France. It was made a Roman province by Caesar. 

GERMANY, an extensive country in the interior of Europe, 
which we call by its ancient name, inhabited by a rude an4 
warlike people. 

GREECE, a celebrated region in the southeast of Europe, fa- 
mous for learning and the arts. It was divided into seve- 
ral siiqall states. 

H. 
HERCULANEUM, a city in the west Qf Italy, near Mount 
Vesuvius, destroyed by an eruption of that mountain, 
A.D. 79. 

L J. 

IDUMEA, a small region of Asia, now included in the north of 

Arabia; it was settled by Esau, or Edom, the brother of 

Jacob. 
JERUSALEM, an ancient and famous city, made by David the 

capital of the Jewish kingdom, now a small town in the 

possession of the Turks. 
INDIA, a large region in the south of Asia, visited by the an? 

cients, but iniperfectly known. 



Ill GEOGRAPHICAL TABLE. 

ITALY, a country of Europe, which still bears the name, a 
peninsula of the Mediterranean sea, celebrated for its fine 
soil and climate, and for being the seat of the most power- 
ful empire of the ancient world. 

L. 
LYDIA, a country of Asia Minor, conquered by Cyrus. Ijf 
last king was Croesus, proverbial for riches. 

M. 
MACEDONIA, a country of Europe, north of Greece, and 

west of Thrace. It subsisted as a kingdom from the time 

of Caranus, 814B. C. to the battle of Pydna, 163, when 

Perseus, its last king, was made captive by the Romans. 
MANTUA, a small town in the north of Italy, famous chiefly 

as the birth-place of Virgil. 
MARATHON, a village of Greece, 10 miles from Athens, where 

Miltiades gained a great victory over the Persians. 
MECCA, a town of Arabia, a little distance from the Red Sea, 

the birth-place of Mahomet, and the principal town in 

the country. 
MEDIA, a country of Asia, south of the Caspian sea, now in 
the limits of Persia. 
MEDINA, a small town of Arabia near the Red Sea, to which 

Mahomet fled, and where he was buried. 

N. 
NIGOMEDIA, a large city near the Euxine, the capital of 

Bithynia. Constantino often resided here, and died here. 
NINEVEH, or NINUS, the capital of the Assyrian empire, 

one of the largest and most splendid cities' of the East^ 

founded by Ashur, or as some think by Nimrod. 
NUMANTIA, a town of Spain, near the source of the rive? 

Durius, or Douro, celebrated for a siege of 14 years by the 

Romans, but at length destroyed by Scipio. 
j^UMIDIA, a country in the north of Africa, now Algiers. If 

was for some time an allied kingdom, then a province of 

Rome. 

P. 
PALMYRA, a city on the eastern boundary of Syria, whose 
splendid ruins are still visible. It was built by Sol omo?i, 
and many years after was the papital of the celebrated 
queen Zenobia. 



11.:^ GEOGRAPHICAL TABLE. 

PANNONIA, a province of the Roman empire, including Scla- 

vonia and a part of Hungary. 
PARTHIA, a province of Persia, which became the seat of a 

powerful empire, with which the Romans were often at 

war. 
PATMOS, a small island east of Greece, whither the Apostle 

John was banished by Doraitian. 
PERGAMUS, a city of 'Asia Minor, near the Black sea, the 

capital of a powerful kingdom which subsisted 150 years. 
PERSIA, at first a small district of the country that now bears 

the name. The Persian empire founded by Cyrus extend- 
ed over all the neighbouring regions. 
PHARSALIA, a plain of Thessaly, celebrated for a great bat- 
tle between Pompey and Ceesar, in which the latter was 

victorious. 
PLATyEA, a small town of Greece noted for a great victory 

of the Greeks over the army of Xerxes, king of Persia. 
POICTIERS, a small town in the south of France, near which 

the Saracens were defeated by Charles Martel. 
POMPEII, a large city of Italy, overwhelmed by an eruption 

of Vesuvius. 
PONTUS, a kingdom of Asia Minor, on the south of the Eux- 

ine ; under Mithridates, it endured a long war with Rome. 
PYRENEES, a lofty chain of mountains dividing France 

from Spain. 

R. 

RAVENNA, a town of Italy on the Adrlatick, inaccessible by 
land, and therefore made the seat of government under the 
last emperors and the Gothick kings. 

ROME, a famous city of Italy, still retaining many remains of 
its ancient splendour. In its most prosperous days it is 
said to have contained 7,000,000 of citizens, but this nuni- 
ber probably includes many who had the privilege of citi- 
zenship, but_were never residents within its walls. 

S. 
SAGUNTUM, a large city in the eastern part of Spain, famous 

for being the cause of tlie second Punick war. 
SALAMIS, an island on the eastern coast of Greece, famous 

for a sea fight, in which the Persian fleet of 2000 ships was 

vanquished by that of the Greeks, consisting of only 300. 
SARDINIA, a lai-ge island in the Mediterranean, which still 

bears the same name, possessed by the Carthaginiansi, 

and taken by the Romans. • 



GEOGRAPHICAL TABLE. 113 

SICILY, also an ialand, the largest in the Mediterranean, set- 
tled chiefly by Grecian colonies, and made a Roman pro- 
vince in the second Punick war. 

SICYON, a small city of Greece, the capital of a small king- 
dom, which is thought to be the most ancient in Greece, 
and one of the most ancient in the world. 

SPAIN, called by the ancients Hispania, a large country of 
Europe, including a large peninsula in the south-west. The 
Cai-thaginians took possession of its coasts, but were su- 
pxerseded by the Romans. 

SPARTA, called also Lacedsemon, a powerful city and repul>- 
lick of Greece. 

SYRIA, an extensive country in the west of Asia, the seat in 
different ages of powerful kingdoms. 

T. 

TARENTUM, a city in the south-east of Italy, noted for lux- 
ury, and for having invited the aid of Pyrrhus against the 
Romans. 

THERMOPYLAE, a narrow passage between Mount CEta and 
the sea, on the eastern coast of Greece. It was here that 
Leonidas, king of Sparta, with only 300 men, engaged with 
the numerous army of the Persians. 

THRACE, a country of Europe, east of Macedonia, now Ro- 
melia, a part of Turkey. 

TIGRIS, a large and rapid river of Asia, rising in Armenia, and 
uniting with the Euphrates not far from its mouth. 

TROY, an ancient and celebrated city of Asia, situated nea¥ the 
straits now called Dardanelles, taken by the united forces 
of Greece, after a siege of 10 years. 

TYRE, a large and splendid city of Asia, on the eastern shore 
of the Mediterranean, taken by Nebuchadnezzar, and after- 
wards by Alexande;r the Great. 

Y. 

YORK, a modern city of Britain, called Eboracum by the an- 
cients. It was the second town in importance on the 
island. 

Z. 

ZAMA, a town of Numidia, 300 miles south-west of Carthage, 
famous for the victory of Scipio Africanus over Hannibal. 

10*^ 



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